Panyaza Lesufi visits north school after principal was ‘thrown out’

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi strongly condemned the action of an alleged group of parents who had “physically removed” Laerskool Theresapark’s principal from her office. Lesufi visited the school on Friday after a video was spread on social media the previous day, showing the principal being carried out of the office in a chair. In the video, the principal could be seen being carried out of the admin block and allegedly throwing herself onto the ground once outside, in full view of other onlooking parents.

READ MORE: Department probes abuse, mismanagement allegations at north school

On Friday, Lesufi met with the school governing body (SGB) and school management team (SMT) members. The meeting was set to take place at 16:00 but only started at 17:00. Lesufi first met the principal at her home, as she has been “booked off” for seven days after consultation with a doctor.

During the school meeting, the few members attending voiced their concerns and allegations against the principal. Lesufi asked that none of the members voicing their complaints should be singled out or be intimidated. One of the main complaints from SGB members was that they were not involved in most of the decision making at the school. Lesufi listened to allegations of unfair appointment of staff members, non-transparency in budget allocation and apparent antagonising of staff and parents of the school.

An SGB member said he had previously probed for information on why there were “many” resignations at the school, but alleged he was met with a “defensive attitude” from the principal.

Allegations were made that a recording was shared on a parents’ WhatsApp group wherein the principal allegedly shouted and verbally abused some of the school staff. “Parents had previously handed over a memorandum to the school, wherein they had listed their concerns,” a SGB member said.

Lesufi and the education department condemned the manner in which the grievances against the principal were expressed, saying that parents should have reached out to the department first before taking matters into their own hands. “No amount of grievances can justify the use of violence on any of our teachers. “That is simply non-negotiable. Further, there are processes and procedures, in law, that parents can take when they are having problems with principals. “We cannot condone this unacceptable behaviour,”

Lesufi said. Deputy Principal of the school, Ronel van Niekerk, said that “thankfully” none of the children were present during the fracas which unfolded between the principal and parents on Thursday. Lesufi stressed that learners should not be involved in the matter and said that their education must come first. The department would investigate the allegations and concerns raised during the meeting.

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