Breaking news: Department of Education suspends deputy principal at Grosvenor Girls’ High

THE KZN Department of Education has suspended the deputy principal of Grosvenor Girls’ High School, Aarthi Brijraj, on Wednesday, July 20, after recommendations from a panel tasked to investigate allegations of racism and financial mismanagement at the school.

The KZN Department of Education’s Head of Department, Nkosinathi Ngcobo, confirmed in a statement that Brijraj, who was also the school’s acting principal following the suspension of principal, Linda Jorgensen, in March this year, was suspended with immediate effect.

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“The department implements the suspension with immediate effect, based on a recommendation made by the independent panel that investigated the allegations of racism and financial mismanagement at the school. We are implementing the recommendations of the independent panel fully and hope the findings and the recommendations thereof will become our point of reference for our education system,” added Ngcobo.

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On Monday, March 7, the panel, led by Advocate Vusi Khuzwayo, with Advocate Makhosini Nkosi as the evidence leader, as well as educational psychologist, Dr Nontobeko Buthelezi, and Jackie Pretorius-Bishop as the secretariat, were tasked by KZN MEC for Education, Kwazi Mshengu, to probe the allegations by learners.

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Recommendations by the panel after the outcome of the investigation were as follows:

• The department immediately intervenes and reviews all appointments made by the principal as well as the contracts she signed with the affected employees.
• In the instance of all employees, who are found to have been employed without meeting basic requirements, and any other specific requirements for the post, their services should be considered for immediate termination.
• The service agreement between the SGB and Soomaroo should be terminated with immediate effect.
• Similarly, the irregular re-employment of Gertze should be terminated with immediate effect.
• Jorgensen and Brijraj should be held liable for all funds paid to any employee who would be found to have been employed in a position without meeting basic requirements.
• Jorgensen must be charged with misconduct for infractions relating to racism, irregular appointments of employees and financial irregularities.

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Mshengu said the department decided to accept all the recommendations given by the panel and referred the report to Ngcobo for implementation.

At this stage, no criminal charges have been opened against either of the women.

Updates to follow.

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