PROTEST OVER A BLACK PRINCIPAL
Parents deny row is racist
TEACHERS at a West Rand school are in hot water after they stayed away from work, allegedly in protest over the appointment of a black principal.
The row deepened yesterday when residents of Davidsonville, west of the city, picketed outside Roodepoort Primary School demanding the removal of school principal Nomathemba Molefe.
Nineteen coloured teachers did not report for work in apparent support of the residents ’ call.
The school ’ s black teachers were allegedly threatened earlier in the week by the coloured community, resulting in them also not showing up for work.
Department of education spokeswoman Phumla Sekhonyane maintained that Molefe was, despite protests from the community, employed in a legal manner.
The department, she added, would not allow the children ’ s education to be disrupted.
When Sowetan visited the school yesterday, some pupils were sitting outside with the protesters while those who made it inside the premises, watched the spectacle from the first floor.
“We won ’ t tolerate any racism as the department. It [Molefe ’ s appointment] is about being qualified. Her qualifications were questioned and an independent body looked into them and their report to us was that there was no wrongdoing when she was appointed and also there was nothing wrong with her qualifications, ” Sekhonyane said.
The absent teachers would now have to explain themselves to the department following a turbulent week at the school.
“We had reports of intimidation of black teachers at the school and, as a result, they were told to report to the district office. Today [yesterday], all coloured teachers did not show up for work. We are going to find out from them what their reasons were,” she said.
Sekhonyane said since Molefe ’ s appointment about three years ago there have been several legal attempts to remove her from her post but every hearing cleared her.
The department was seeking an urgent court application to prevent protesting residents from coming to the premises and disturbing schooling.
Parent Tebogo Motlhabane said black teachers played the race card while all they wanted was for Molefe ’ s appointment to be probed.
Resident Jonathan Jones said teachers who were better qualified for the position than Molefe were overlooked in her favour. He maintained that Molefe ’ s race was not an issue.
Sekhonyane said the police would remain at the school until order was restored.