Threat to burn down school

FURIOUS parents at Musa Primary School in uGobandlovu reserve outside eSikhaleni, have threatened to burn the school to the ground, if the Department of Education (DoE) does not meet their demands.

Parents marched to the DoE Mtunzini Circuit offices in eSikhaleni on Monday morning, opposing the appointment of a new principal.

They strongly believed the process regarding Skhumbuzo Sibisi’s appointment was fraudulent, and demanded for the former acting principal Mr Zulu be re-instated.

Personal allegations against the new principal also surfaced, with parents claiming he was was caught smoking in the girls’ toilet last month.

‘Our children told us they saw him smoking. How can we bring our children to this school if the principal teaches them bad habits?’ said one parent.

School Governing Body (SGB) chairperson Thandi Mthembu claimed the principal had locked the school gate and refused them entry, when they inquired about his alleged smoking.

‘We were locked out and not allowed to enter the school premises.

‘This is our school, how can we be refused entry?

‘We had to conduct our meeting in the bushes.

‘The Department sent him (Sibisi) here without informing the SGB or parents.

‘Proper procedures were not even followed when interviewing him.’.

Parents added that when they were conducting their meeting outside the school, educational specialist Mthoko Mthembu supposedly called them ‘Shangane (loose women)’.

Parents handed over their memorandum at the Mtunzini Circuit, where it was accepted and signed by education specialist Tholi Mabaso.

Musa principal Skhumbuzo Sibisi told the Zululand Observer he did not have anything to say on the matter.

The uThungulu DoE District Director, David Chonco said he was no the right person to comment on the matter, and referred it to the Provincial DoE Communications Manager, Muzi Mahlambi.

Mahlambi in turn said he had not received any information regarding the matter