‘Racism not an issue at Klipspruit High’

RACISM is not the core issue at Klipspruit West High School, according to some of the parents.

Learning at the school south of Johannesburg was suspended when residents took to the streets to protest against the appointment of a new principal.

“The media must stop peddling racism. Racism is not the core of the issues‚” Patriots of Equality president Anthony Williams said.

“There was a flawed process in the appointment of the principal.

“The circuit manager was chairing a meeting where the appointment of the principal was discussed.

“That meeting was supposed to have been chaired by a parent.”

Williams said the school had become a political playground.

“The level of insubordination crazy‚” Williams said.

He denied that parents had disrupted learning. “We never went into the school premises.”

Speaking outside the school yesterday, Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said learning had resumed there.

However‚ 12 teachers and two administrative personnel did not pitch up for work.

The absent teachers‚ according to Lesufi‚ had complained that they were not safe at the school. Lesufi said the department had organised security for the teachers.

He said he would also meet with Sadtu over threats that they want to shut down the whole Soweto area.

“There is no way we can continue in an environment like this.”

Lesufi said he would also be meeting with parents tomorrow to decide on the future of the school.

“I’ve asked the office to arrange an urgent meeting with all the parents because we have to make a decision.

“I’ve reached a stage where we need to take a decision now whether we have a school or not.

“I also want the parents to indicate whether we have a school or not.”