Teachers found guilty and principal’s charges cleared

After months and months of investigation conducted by the Mpumalanga Department of Education the two teachers at Hoërskool Reynopark were found guilty and the principal was cleared of his charges.
There was no substantive evidence to charge the principal Mr Wolla Ras and as such he has been cleared of the allegations leveled against him.

The evidence brought against the two other teachers Ms Bella Ras and Mr Leon McKenzie was found to be substantial and charges were preferred against them. They were both found guilty following a departmental disciplinary hearing.
Ms Ras was given three months without pay while Mr McKenzie was dismissed.
Ms Ras and Mr McKenzie both have appealed the sanction; as such the Department awaits the outcome of their appeal.

They were then temporally transferred to neighboring schools until the Department receives the outcome of their appeal.

The view of the Department is that this sanction will send a clear message to all that racism and discrimination does not have any place within the public institutions.

“It is our wish to take this time to humbly request the school community of Hoërskool Reynopark and Emalahleni Local Municipality to collaborate with the department to close this unfortunate chapter. This is imperative in the quest to take the future of our children to greater heights,” said Mr Jasper Zwane spokesperson from Mpumalanga Department of Education.

In this regard, the Department will work together with institutions such as the Human Rights Commission and the South African Council of Educators to help in instilling the Human Rights Culture at this school.
On Monday, February 16 the chanting of “No more Mr Ras, Ms Ras and Mr McKenzie” was heard outside Hoërskool Reynopark as learners and their parents made their voices heard.

After a recording was made where it’s heard that a parent is called a “Baboon” and the “K word” was used.
Mr Ras, Ms Ras and McKenzie were all suspended from their duties on that same day.