Breach lands principal in the cells

A teacher had obtained a court protection order

A principal at Eden Park Primary School, south of Johannesburg, spent a night in police cells for allegedly breaching a protection order by walking into a colleague.

Charles van Zyl was released yesterday following a brief appearance in the Palmridge Magistrate’s Court where the case was struck off the roll.

A teacher at the school, who’s name is known to Sowetan, had obtained a protection order against the principal last month after indicating that she felt unsafe around him at the school after laying an assault charge against him.

Van Zyl will now appear on a assault charge in the same court next Friday.

The school governing body (SGB) said the school was divided into two factions since the principal was appointed about two years ago.

SGB’s Hamilton Jacobs said they were glad that the matter has been resolved “for now” and that schooling will not be affected.

Department of Education spokesman Steve Mabona said the department has launched its own internal investigations “on all allegations implicating both” the teacher and the principal.

“The department has moved the teacher to the district as an interim measure until criminal cases are finalised.”