TimesLive reports that an acting principal who shared a kickback on a textbook order with a school governor has failed to overturn his dismissal by the Free State education department.

RJ Segalo lost his R33,000-a-month job at Ditholwana Primary in Botshabelo after splitting a R6,000 kickback with the chairperson of the governing body, according to an Education Labour Relations Council finding. Segalo told arbitrator AW Howden that he did not realise the money was a bribe or that accepting it was against the law. But Howden said: “This in itself is dishonesty.” The arbitrator criticised Segalo for his claim that he only raised the alarm about the kickback two or three weeks later when the books were not delivered. “An inference that can be made here that [he] suddenly realised he was going to be exposed for his misdeeds and conveniently had a change of heart,” he said. "[Segalo] has chosen to plead ignorance and attempted to shift the blame to others. However, based on the submissions of the parties and on the balance of probability, it is my finding that [he] has acted dishonestly in this matter and has contravened the rules or standards in doing so,” the arbitrator found.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dave Chambers at TimesLive

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