Investigations ongoing as DA and Mbeki Foundation call for reinstatement of principal

Following the controversy surrounding Pretoria High School For Girls earlier this year, the DA and the Thabo Mbeki Foundation (TMF) have made mounting calls for the reinstatement of the suspended principal, Phillipa Erasmus.

Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) MEC, Matome Chiloane, have come under fire for the continued suspension of Erasmus and her deputy, Doret Schoombie.

This follows the outcome of the GDE’s initiated investigation, which found the 12 learners accused of forming a “whites-only” WhatsApp group not guilty of the charges against them.

Erasmus and Schoombie were originally placed on suspension on July 30 for three months, though despite that period having lapsed, they have not been reinstated.

In July, the 12 matric learners were suspended for allegedly making racist remarks in the WhatsApp group.

The learners faced charges related to violence, bullying, and disruptive behaviour, but were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

The charges against the learners included:

– Violence and bullying: Accusations of physical violence and bullying of other students.

– Disruptive behaviour: Engaging in actions that disrupt the educational environment.

– Violation of school rules: Breaching specific school regulations related to conduct and discipline.

Despite the school governing body’s (SGB) decision, Chiloane still stated in August that the department would initiate an independent investigation into the presence of racism at the school.

Since then, stakeholders have accused the GDE of acting prematurely when the allegations were made public and of making unwarranted suspensions.

Sergio Isa Dos Santos, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, issued a statement stating that the continued investigation had gone far enough in disrupting school activities.

“The suspension initiated due to allegations of racism involving learners at Pretoria High School for Girls has not only disrupted teaching and learning at the school at a crucial time of the academic year but also raised significant concerns about the fairness and integrity of the GDE’s processes in handling this matter,” he said.

Dos Santos said the school was yearning for the return of its principals and that the investigation launched by the department was a mistake.

“This sham of this investigation in the face of serious corruption allegations against senior GDE officials is nonsensical. It is unacceptable to waste resources and time on a baseless investigation against a principal exonerated when all 12 students were found not guilty of the allegations. It would be more prudent to focus on investigating the grave allegations of corruption at the GDE,” Dos Santos said.

He that the department recruiting the services of Mdladlamba Attorneys on August 12 to conduct what was supposed to be a seven-day investigation has gone on for months after the fact.

According to him, Chiloane alleged this was due to the ongoing preliminary examinations taking place at the time, though the investigation continues to this day with no indication of when it will conclude.

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Dos Santos made the following demands on behalf of the DA:

– Immediately terminate the suspension and investigation into the principal, and allow her to return to her post at PHSG.

– Immediately reinstate the deputy principal in her post at PHSG.

– Immediately terminate the investigation that is currently being undertaken by a law firm that has delayed the investigations, deviated from the terms of reference, and is accused of intimidation tactics.

– Lesufi and Chiloane to publicly apologise to all 12 learners involved, principal and deputy principal.

– Chiloane must be held personally responsible and must repay the agreed amount for investigations of R360 000.

The Thabo Mbeki Foundation also hit out at Lesufi and Chiloane over the matter in a 13-page letter that accused the pair of taking drastic measures against the principal and students without investigating the matter first.

In his letter, the former president stated that actions were “taken before any investigation was carried out to establish that there was at least prima facie evidence to suggest that there was substance to the allegations made”.

Complaints made by the Mbeki Foundation include:

– A school newsletter in which a GDE official, Andries Nkadimeng, made the statement that “Issues of discrimination and issues of racism will not be tolerated by the GDE, whether there is tangible evidence or not”.

– A GDE official made Erasmus apologise to the entire school during an assembly.

– A GDE official made remarks during a July 19 assembly criticising the 12 learners for their alleged racism.

– GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona claimed the investigation into the students had nothing to do with racism, but bullying and violence during a media interview.

– Erasmus was accosted by students while entering the school grounds on July 18 yelling “We Want Change” among other chants, about which no disciplinary action was taken.

Mbeki said: “It seems, for some reason, that the GDE is very determined at all costs to smear the PHSG with the charge of racism.”

The foundation has made the following recommendations:

– Terminate the principal’s suspension and allow her to return to her job at the PHSG;

– Allow the deputy principal to return with immediate effect to her job;

– Address the school assembly to explain its actions

– Reconsider halting the investigation instituted by the GDE.

“We hope the GDE will draw honest conclusions from this unfortunate episode of the ‘12-person learner chat group’ and thus improve how it discharges its role of managing and leading our school system, as defined by law,” Mbeki’s statement concluded.

Rekord contacted the GDE regarding the demands made by the DA, an update on the status of the investigation, and the rationale behind the prolonged silence and lack of communication regarding the conclusion of this matter and if the racism claims were thoroughly investigated and reviewed.

GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona accordingly said that the report from an independent investigative body would be released in due course.

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