Probe into LGBTI e-mail

The department of education has launched an internal investigation into an e-mail requesting a number of schools in Makhanda to submit a list of LGBTI pupils.

The e-mail that was sent last week has caused outrage, with DA MPL Edmund van Vuuren saying such a request leaves LGBTI pupils open to abuse. However, the department has distanced itself from the e-mail, saying it was not sanctioned by their special programme unit.

The e-mail, signed by Tamara Ndziweni from the department’s Sarah Baartman district dated October 16, states that the special programmes unit head office will conduct a workshop to raise awareness on the rights of the LGBTI community.

It then proceeds to request schools to forward the names of 10 pupils that belongs to “this community” by the end of the business day.

Van Vuuren said the request was an infringement on the privacy of the lifestyles of LGBTI pupils and, in the wrong hands, could very easily result in physical harm.

After Van Vuuren raised his concerns and outrage about the content of the e-mail, Ndziweni sent another e-mail stating that pupils were no longer invited to the workshop due to exams. Instead learner support agents were invited.

Provincial education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima confirmed that there was an LGBTI workshop scheduled for October 30 in Mpekweni Resort near Port Alfred. However, there was no request for a list of names of LGBTI pupils.

Mtima said the e-mail was “misrepresented in the court of public opinion”.

According to Mtima, the legit memorandum sent out by the department only requested a list of names for learner agents, life orientation and school governing body members who would be attending the workshop, and not pupils.

The Dispatch has seen both the memorandum requesting the names of LGBTI pupils and the one addressed to officials.

“For the record the memorandum asking for learner data was to districts requesting them to collate information about the total number of learners with disabilities. There is no activity or instruction to create a database for the LGBTI groups,” said Mtima.

Mtima said the e-mail by Ndziweni sent to the schools was not sanctioned by the special programmes unit.

“The department therefore distances itself from the content and the form of this e-mail and thus started an investigation.”

The workshop aimed to raise awareness on the LGBTI community.