Parents furious at return of exonerated principal
CHAOS broke out at East London Secondary School in Braelyn yesterday as parents and pupils protested against the return of principal Ben Chetty.
Angry parents had convened at the school by 6.30am and locked the gates. Both parents and pupils carried placards, with many pupils refusing to go to class. Police were on standby.
Heading their list of demands was the removal of Chetty, who they accuse of mismanagement of school finances. Chetty was placed on precautionary suspension in June last year pending investigations, but was due to return yesterday after a disciplinary hearing cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Among those protesting for his removal was school governing body (SGB) member Nombuyiselo Sishuba. “We don’t want him to lose his job but we want the district to move him to another school,” said Sishuba. “This man misused school funds. We’re talking about a lot of money here, and meanwhile the school is upside down.”
Education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said Chetty had been cleared of all allegations. “As such he was reinstated as principal with full powers.”
Chetty could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Other demands of yesterday included:
End racist promotions
the
parents
of
Indian teachers above black ones; Renovate school toilets; Remove the sports coach, who receives a full salary, when no sports are offered at the school;
Food for the children as part of the school nutrition programme;
Remove SGB members involved in misuse of school funds;
Replace unqualified Grade R teachers with qualified ones; and
Remove security guards who abused pupils.
Parent Nombulelo Maboko accused security guards of being “unruly” and voiced deep concern over sanitation. “They don’t clean the toilets. They are in a disgusting state. Every year there is money cashed in which is for upgrading the toilets – upgrades which never take place,” she complained.
Phakama Mathunwya questioned the education received by their children, alleging that teachers themselves were unqualified.
SGB chairwoman Anusha Padayachee was concerned that teaching had been disrupted.
Mtima said the district was drawing up a plan. —