An investigation by the Gauteng department of education has dismissed allegations of differential treatment of staff and pupils at a Pretoria school for the deaf.

Parents and teachers recently accused Transoranje School for the Deaf's management of nepotism and ill-treatment of some pupils over the weekends.

However, the department's probe has now refuted all the claims, which included that children were served "prison food" on weekends.

Department spokesman Steve Mabona said the claim that some pupils were being starved on weekends was false. He showed Sowetan a menu crafted by a dietician and approved by a doctor indicating that, instead, the pupils were served balanced and healthy meals.

"Of the 89 boarders, 50 of them are not paying hostel fees and 40 are unable to pay all together. It is recommended that the boarders go home every second weekend and one compulsory weekend out.

"The SGB [school governing body] has decided to continue [accommodating] these pupils despite challenges with funds. This has resulted in a shortfall of R538400 per year," Mabona said.

He said there was no evidence found regarding black teachers being treated differently from white teachers.

On nepotism allegations, Mabona said evidence showed that the current principal was not part of the appointment recommendations for both his wife and daughter.

"The principal was appointed at the school in 1987 as a psychologist and his wife was appointed in 1989 as a teacher. They were single when they got appointed and were married years later.

"The daughter started by assisting the school voluntarily since they stay in the premises and in January 2014 she was appointed as the house mother," he said.