Slain principal wanted to quit
Nyembe accused of wanting post
Ekurhuleni deputy principal Mswazi Hubert Nyembe wanted to resign because he was accused of vying for the post of school principal.
This according to his friend Vusi Tholo, who said Nyembe told him he was bothered by the rumours.
Nyembe, 56, was shot dead last week at Edalinceba Primary School in Duduza in an apparent hit.
Captain Kay Makhubele said police had not arrested Nyembe’s killers, but investigations were at an advanced stage. Speaking on the sidelines of Nyembe’s funeral at the Kwa Thema Methodist Church on Saturday, Tholo said the deceased told him the rumours came from senior officials at the school.
“I knew him very well. He was not the kind of person who wanted power at all cost. At the time he was acting [principal] he told me there were things he uncovered including the disappearance of money, but [he] didn’t give me details,” said Tholo.
Tholo told mourners that if he knew his friend was going to be killed, he would have urged him to resign.
“Last week Nyembe told me he wanted to resign as deputy principal because he was no longer happy following persistent talks about him wanting to become the school principal. I should have said resign immediately, but ... if you knew him you would understand that he was very principled and fearless.”
Tholo said Nyembe didn’t want the post of principal.
“To his wife Nonhlanla and children, don’t avenge his death although you know his killers. Your father was a peaceful man and at the end the truth shall come out.”
A family friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Sowetan the family had given the police the name of a person they suspect was responsible for Nyembe’s death.
“They also gave police information why the person could be behind the deputy principal’s death. The family is certain the man is responsible.”
Another friend, who also wished to remain anonymous, said Nyembe told him he felt betrayed by someone close to him. Nyembe was acting principal for more than a year after the principal Vusi Mbonani was on sick leave following a car crash.
SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) Duduza branch secretary Phakiso Thai told mourners corruption was rife at the school and that this could be the reason Nyembe was killed. Thai told Sowetan he was aware that Nyembe had lodged complaints at district level on corruption at the school.
“While he was acting [principal] he found out that there was money missing and some teachers claim to have resigned in order to cash in their retirement funds.”
Gauteng department of education spokesman Steven Mabona said: “According to information at our disposal, we do not have such a complaint [from Nyembe].”
Mabona said they had only received a complaint from Sadtu on allegations of misuse of school funds and the district was dealing with the matter.
Nyembe was buried at Vlakfontein Cemetery in Kwa Thema on Saturday.