An independent investigative report on incidents at Pretoria High School for Girls has recommended that the principal and deputy principal responsible be charged with misconduct.
The Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, on Monday released the independent investigative report which probed allegations of a culture of racism at the school and provided recommendations to address such incidents.
The investigation, which was conducted by Mdladlamba Attorneys, a law firm commissioned by the Gauteng Department of Education came after pupils created a “whites only” WhatsApp group where they shared insensitive messages with racial undertones.
The allegations relating to the WhatsApp group were reported to the school principal and deputy principal in October 2023 by three learners.
The 12 learners who were part of the WhatsApp group were subsequently charged and taken through a formal disciplinary inquiry by the school’s School Governing Body (SGB) and were all found not guilty on the basis that the WhatsApp group was deemed to be a private platform.
A 13th learner – who was also charged and taken through a disciplinary hearing after she was accused of having made racial remarks towards white learners in a video that she made in February 2024 during a Black History month which is based on an American concept on TikTok – was also not found guilty by the disciplinary hearing.
Director of the law firm, Charles Mdladlamba, told a media briefing that the principal and deputy principal of the school mishandled the issue and should be charged with misconduct.
“School Official 1 mishandled this matter and thus failed to comply with her obligations under paragraphs 5.1.1.2 c) and 5.1.1.5 i) and n) of the School Policy. She further breached the learners’ rights under paragraph 10.1.1 of the PHSG Learner code of conduct and thus item 3 – sections 9 (1) and 10 of the constitution.
“It follows therefore that School Official 1 has committed misconduct as envisaged in section 18 (1) (a) and (f) of the Employment Equity Act (EEA),” Mdladlamba said.
The report also found that some white teachers at the school did not greet their fellow black colleagues "because they do not know whether they are cleaners or educators at the school".
Mdladlamba said the allegation that some white teachers do not greet their black colleagues was confirmed by the principal, Phillipa Erasmus, who is suspended.
"According to the principal, this is the biggest frustration that she must deal with at the school, including the ill-treatment of the administration staff by some educators.
"The principal indicated that her challenge is that the administration staff do not want to name the educators that are ill-treating them and thus she cannot take the necessary disciplinary steps against them."
The report recommended that she as well as the deputy principal responsible for discipline as well as two educators be charged with misconduct.
It also recommended that the estate manager and the HR manager be charged with misconduct.
"The GDE [Gauteng education department] is to consider removing the governing body chairman from the governing body for his allegations of interfering with the legislative powers and functions of the MEC.”
Having investigated the matter, the law firm recommended that the GDE must ensure that the school offers counselling to all learners who were affected by the incident, including the 13 learners that were found guilty by the disciplinary hearings.
“We will implement the recommendations, and bring social cohesion into the school in a manner that involves everyone, learners and teachers alike. We will also bring the school closer to the National Dialogue that is being purported by the Government of National Unity,” MEC Chiloane said.
How the probe emerged
The probe followed a visit to the school by Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane on 30 July after 12 white girls, including eight prefects, were suspended on 24 July for suspected racism.
According to the department, the conversations allegedly included racial commentary about the ongoing dissatisfaction among black pupils regarding issues they faced at the school, alluding to these issues being insignificant.
"Similar commentary about a black hair protest by learners that reportedly took place at the school in 2016 was also made in the group chat."
They were subsequently cleared of the allegation during an internal disciplinary hearing earlier this month.
Following the outcome of the disciplinary hearings of the 13 learners, various sections of society expressed disappointment with the outcome of the disciplinary process and pleaded with the GDE to commission an independent inquiry into all allegations.
Notwithstanding the previous investigation - which made clear findings and recommendations - similar allegations had resurfaced.
The allegations that were put forward were tested against the records and policies of the school and the law.
The report is based on evidence and the rules of engagement were explained thoroughly to all individuals who were interviewed. Therefore, the findings of the investigation are based on evidence and concessions made by some of the implicated persons.
The investigation found that the principal, deputy principal and acting principal should be charged with misconduct; there is selective application of discipline based on race; the SGB attempted to interfere with the suspension of the 12 pupils; some white staff do not greet their black colleagues; and the estate manager committed misconduct. - SAnews.gov.za
