Holding back Matric Certificates

I am not sure if this is the correct platform to bring this up but I’ll try On Wednesday 8 January my ****s child went to Verulam Secondary School to collect her Matric Certificate. She was told that she could not have it because she owed R9000 in school fees. She was not given any Department of Education Document reflecting this outstanding balance 1. School fees for the year are only +/- R2900 2. It is ******* for schools to hold back certificates for outstanding school fees. We gave our **** copies of the necessary statute stating that it is ******* to hold back certificates for outstanding school fees. She also had all of her school payment receipts so on Thursday 9 January she took a day’s leave (from her other job) and went to the school. It was closed and she was told by security that the school would only open again on Monday 13 January. (A loss of income and a waste of time). 1. Why was the school open on Wednesday 8 January and then closed on Thursday and Friday? She went again on Monday and asked for the certificate which she was denied and told that she owed R9000 in school fees. She dealt with a Mrs S H Kelly and disputed the amount. She was then told that there was a mistake and that she only owed R1900. Again no documents were shown to her. She then produced she receipts and told them that she only owed R250, which they agreed with. 1. Are our school financial records in such a mess that school employees just make up outstanding amounts? 2. How could the school accept the outstanding amount given to them by our ****? 3. Why were all 3 amounts mentioned round figures? Our **** was told to pay the R250 before they would give the certificate. When she produced the copies of the statute, we had given her, she was ushered into an office, treated like royalty and given the certificate. On leaving she told them that she would not pay the R250 because she had lost 2 days pay and incurred the cost of 2 trips to the school due to the schools ******* actions. Our **** told me that if we had not told her of the law and if she had not kept her receipts she would have paid the R1900, in cash, just to get the certificate 1. Would she have been given an official receipt? 2. Does the Minister of Education know that schools are withholding certificates for outstanding school fees? 3. How many parents, not knowing the law, have paid an arbitrary amount, with no documentary proof that the fees were actually outstanding, just to get their child’s certificate? 4. Are official receipts issued for these payments? 5. Will the parent be refunded if they have been overcharged due to all these system errors, and who will determine the correct amount? (R9000 or R1900 or R250) My main concern is due to the schools breaking the law, not giving the parents/students official reconciled Department statements and the arbitrary amounts told to them that they are in arrears that: 1. Is this a **** being carried out by certain schools? 2. Are certain school employees telling parents that they are in arrears, hoping that they have not kept their receipts, and are then not sure if they are in arrears or not. 3. Are these same employees preying on parents emotions hoping that the parent will pay the “arrears” just to get the required certificate even without an official Department of Education reconciled Statement?(My **** said she would have) 4. If the schools financial records are in such a mess where are the employees getting the correct arrears from? 5. Most parents will pay cash just so they can take the certificate with them. (My **** would have) 6. Are official Department receipts being issued for the payments or is this cash being pocketed by the schools employees? This letter may be considered an allegation that ***** is being committed. It is not as I do not have proof but there appears to be a “hell of a lot of smoke” and therefore some investigation should be performed. I have withheld my ****s name as she still has another child at the school. Again if this is the wrong forum for this topic please destroy this letter and I will drop the matter. Yours Sincerely

Nigel Parmee