The long-standing feud over control of the Baha’i Schools, John and Valera Allen Primary and Setsembiso Sebunye High — has now reached the High Court.
The schools’ founders, through the Setsembiso Sebunye Foundation on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Eswatini, accuse Hhohho Regional Education Officer (REO) Nkosinathi Nkambule of obstructing the privatisation process despite a ministerial directive.
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They have filed an urgent application seeking orders to compel the school committees to surrender all documents, financial records, and operational reports, and to block them from making any withdrawals or transactions from the schools’ accounts until new accounts are opened under the applicants’ control.
Ministerial Directive Defied
At the centre of the dispute is Nkambule, who allegedly defied an order issued on August 14 by Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo, granting privatisation status to the schools.
Lawyer Zweli Jele, for the applicants, told the court the matter was urgent, stressing that the schools reopen on September 15.
“The authority over the operations, finances and management of the John and Valera Allen Primary as well as the Setsembiso Sebunye High has reverted back to the applicant from the respective school committees as at August 14, pursuant to receipt of the decision from the minister granting the schools privatisation status,” Jele argued.
He warned that unless the issue was resolved before reopening, confusion among parents and disruptions in learning would be inevitable.
Court Orders Sought
The applicants seek:
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An interdict stopping the committees from withdrawing or transacting from bank accounts 9110006593170 and 9110006593197 held with Standard Bank.
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An order compelling the committees to hand over all operational, financial, and management documents within two days of service.
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Permission to open new accounts for both schools and a directive to Standard Bank to transfer all funds into the new accounts.
Historical Background
In a founding affidavit, National Spiritual Assembly Secretary Deborah Dagdar, deposed from her residence in White River, Mpumalanga, said the Baha’i Assembly established the John and Valera Allen Primary in 1988 and Setsembiso Sebunye High in 2000.
She explained that while the schools were historically supervised by the ministry of education, their administration and control had always been delegated to the assembly.
After more than a year of rigorous application processes, the schools were finally approved for conversion from mission/government-aided schools to fully privatised institutions.
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