School principals and governing bodies are robbing pupils of resources at an increasing rate, according to a Corruption Watch report for the first quarter of 2013.
The NGO, which aims to expose corruption in the public sector, said in its report, "Your Voices on Corruption", that from January to April this year it has received 513 reports of corruption.
"It is, sadly, steadily increasing," said Corruption Watch executive director David Lewis yesterday.
Lewis said that though he does not want to "smear" all principals and governing bodies, there was widespread collusion in misappropriating money and resources intended to improve education.
Corruption Watch said an investigation of the finances of the Thubelihle Intermediate School, in Soweto, earlier this month had uncovered the loss of thousands of rands.
The principal allegedly made out 41 cheques, amounting to R134487.56, to herself, and R41059.30 was allegedly paid by cheque to the former chairman of the school governing body. Several allegedly fake invoices were found.
"Unfortunately, what is happening at Thubelihle is not a rare occurrence," said Lewis.
"When you have reports on corruption at 100 schools it is difficult to believe that it is not widespread."
Most of the cases reported to Corruption Watch in the first four months of 2013 involved corruption at provincial government level, particularly in Gauteng.
Lewis said that, according to the complaints it received, the police were among the most corrupt in the public service.
Lewis said nepotism was often at the root of abuse by people in public office.
"Usually the nepotism is not the end of the corruption but the beginning.
"When someone is placed in a position because of nepotism, he is usually placed in a position in which he can siphon off money and resources."
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