With eight months to go to settle its eye-watering municipal bill, local preschool Tomorrowland Day Care Centre has suspended its school administrator amid an investigation into possible financial mismanagement.
The school, one of the oldest and most beloved in the Buffalo Flats community, was plunged into darkness in January after failing to pay its R734,556.21 municipal bill. Since then, with donations and municipal concessions, electricity has been restored, and the bill has been reduced to R278,241.94, which must be settled by November to keep the school open.
The school’s financial troubles stem from multiple challenges, including governance issues, possible lack of internal financial controls, and deteriorating infrastructure, which contributed to inaccurate municipal billing.
The newly constituted school governing body (SGB) confirmed that it decided last week to suspend the administrator while a full investigation is conducted into the school’s financial situation.
SGB member Saabira Danster said parents say the administrator should be held accountable for the school’s struggles. Danster is among those elected on February 5, following a four-year absence of a functioning governing body.
“As parents, we always felt n the dark about the school, and our calls for an SGB were ignored, so we are relieved to finally have elected officials,” Danster said.
She added that efforts to rebuild the school had already begun. “We’ve started an infrastructure makeover, appointed a board of directors, and seen a steady increase in enrolments. Staff salaries have also been increased, addressing years of underpayment, with some teachers previously earning as little as R1,300 a month.”
Buffalo City metro (BCM) has also identified a water leak that contributed to the high bill.
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya advised consumers not to let bills accumulate to the point where interventions become difficult.
“In cases like Tomorrowland, where leaks or system glitches may have contributed to the debt, early intervention is crucial,” he said.
DA councillor Geoff Walton believes the municipality should take a more proactive approach to monitoring accounts in arrears.
“More needs to be done to engage with consumers and understand the reasons behind non-payment, especially for vital services like preschools and daycare centres,” he said.
“Needy institutions are not given the same relief as large businesses, where millions of rand in debt have been written off.
“Tomorrowland Edu-care’s closure would not only harm the children but also weaken the community’s social and economic fabric. The fact that this account was allowed to spiral out of control suggests that municipal officials are either failing to monitor these accounts or ignoring the warning signs.”
Marion Marillier, founder of Mom to Many Development ECD, echoed these concerns, saying many early childhood development (ECD) centres in Buffalo City were struggling with rising utility costs.
“We do everything we can to conserve water and electricity, but it barely makes a dent in our expenses,” she said. “It’s stressful to receive such high bills while still trying to cover all the other costs needed to run an ECD.”
Marillier said Tomorrowland’s potential closure would have a lasting impact. “It will add to the growing number of children in East London who have no access to early education,” she said.
“BCM needs a dedicated office for ECD concerns,” she said.
“At least acknowledge our struggles and show us that steps are being taken.”
In response, the Buffalo Flats community has mobilised efforts to raise the outstanding amount, led by Simone Klaasen, a 2022 Daily Dispatch Local Hero. Their fundraising efforts have already secured over R60,000, along with corporate support for repairs.
Famous Tomorrowland alumni have also stepped in to help, including SABC News UN/US correspondent Sherwin Bryce-Pease. “The alumni of teaching and learning institutions are often the lifeblood of communities like Buffalo Flats,” he said.
“We all have a responsibility to ensure that future generations have equal, if not better, opportunities than we did. Allowing an institution like Tomorrowland to fall by the wayside would be a tragedy.”
To support the efforts to save Tomorrowland Day Care Centre, follow Simone Klaasen on Facebook for details on donations and fundraisers to suppo
