LIMPOPO – Tensions between the community of Maswanganyi village and the principal of Maswanganyi Primary School have escalated to the point where the principal has been advised not to enter the school premises due to safety concerns.

Community members are calling for the principal to leave the school, accusing him of compromising teaching and learning and mismanaging school affairs.

According to community leader Sibusiso Honwani, who is leading a group of parents and residents opposed to the principal remaining at the school, the community became angry after realising that learners were being released early and the principal was refusing to explain the situation to them.

“After noticing that for three weeks learners were coming home at 11:00, we sent people to the school to investigate since the SGB was not communicating with us, but the principal refused to talk to them or give any explanation as to why learners were being released early,” said Honwani.

He said the situation prompted community members to stage a protest at the school gate, where they blocked teachers from entering the school while demanding answers.

“We organised ourselves and protested at the school gate, refusing to allow teachers to enter until they explained what was happening. The situation was only resolved after police intervened,” he said.

Honwani said the community later discovered that learners were being released early due to an electricity problem at the school, which prevented staff from printing papers or performing other tasks that required electrical equipment, forcing the school to rely on a generator to power essential devices.

He alleged that the principal had delayed hiring an electrician to repair the fault because he was benefiting from the situation.

“For instance, he would buy fuel for the generator with a small amount but claim much higher amounts from the school,” he alleged.

He further claimed that the principal determines the school budget without involving the school governing body (SGB), while money collected from parents as annual “donations” is allegedly not accounted for.

“The money that learners pay every year, which is called a donation because education is free in South Africa, is not reflected in the school budget. It is not accounted for, which means the principal can decide how to spend it without accountability. That’s why the community has decided that we no longer want the principal at the school,” he said.

When approached for comment, Limpopo Department of Education spokesperson Mike Maringa confirmed that the principal was currently not reporting at the school due to safety concerns.

“The principal has not been removed from the school, but was advised to report to the circuit office because the situation at the school was volatile. He remains the principal of the school, and all the issues raised are being attended to,” said Maringa.

He added that the department has informed the community that it does not have the authority to remove the principal or dissolve the SGB.

“We have indicated through one of the letters that the community does not have the power to hire or fire the principal. The principal will remain at the helm while we address the issues,” he said.

Maringa said community members have also been advised to follow proper channels if they believe there has been any wrongdoing. “It is only the head of the department who has the authority to dissolve the SGB and terminate the contract of the principal after following all due processes,” he said.