GEORGE NEWS - Olivia du Plessis, the dismissed deputy head of Pacaltsdorp Secondary School, has run out of options at the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to declare her dismissal invalid. The only avenue now open to her is the Labour Court.
Du Plessis was initially dismissed by the presiding officer at a disciplinary hearing on 11 May 2016. She appealed her dismissal to the MEC for Education but was unsuccessful, with the MEC confirming the dismissal on 24 October 2016. She then lodged a dispute with the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) which also confirmed her dismissal at a de novo arbitration.
John Bruinders, a former school governing body (SGB) secretary, told the George Herald last year that when he was elected to the SGB, the new committee realised at their first meeting that there was a problem with the finances of the school. "We approached the WCED, who initially weren't very helpful with regards to our concerns." The SGB opened a fraud case at the Pacaltsdorp police station after concluding that about R300 000 had apparently been paid to a third party without the necessary authorisation.
Paddy Atwell, spokesperson for the WCED, said, "There was no theft or mismanagement. The disciplinary hearing found that the school paid her catering company R340 000 for catering services rendered. The presiding officer found her guilty of not complying with regulations concerning Remunerative Work Outside the Public Service (RWOPs), and the misuse of her position by utilising her own catering company. The process to recover the money will now be initiated as the dispute she lodged has failed."
Du Plessis said, "It was not my company - the actual person who received the money was my husband, the owner of the catering company, and he has passed away as well as the school principal, Neville Raubenheimer, who authorised the payments. I had no signing power as I was not the principal. My husband was asked by the principal to do the catering." She said that she is very happy and her life goes on as she explores new avenues.
Bruinders said the police investigation is at an advanced stage. Attwell confirmed that the matter was reported to the police, but added, "We cannot comment on the police investigation, as it is sub judice." At the time of going to print the George Herald had not received comment from the police.
In terms of Section C.5.5 of RWOPs, the Public Service Regulations (Code of Conduct), an employee may not, without approval, undertake remunerative work outside her or his official duties or use the equipment from his or her official place of employment for such work.
ARTICLE: MYRON RABINOWITZ, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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