School deputy head removed

Chaos as angry parents join pupils in protest

A deputy principal at a school in Alberton on the East Rand has been removed from the school pending an investigation after she allegedly made offensive and disparaging remarks to a pupil who was wearing a summer dress.

The deputy principal at Brackenhurst High School is alleged to have told the pupil, who wore a dress showing her cleavage, “if something happens to you, it is your fault”, effectively meaning she was asking for it.

Chaos erupted at the school yesterday as pupils and parents protested against the alleged remarks made on Friday.

Parents stormed the school demanding that the deputy principal be suspended, saying the remarks were inappropriate, disparaging and sexist.

Tempers flared after police and armed security were called to the school but parents chased them away, questioning why they came armed to stabilise the situation.

Gauteng department of education spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed the deputy principal’s precautionary removal from the school and that she would report to the district office with immediate effect.

“We can confirm that an investigation has been launched and a preliminary report will be shared with parents on Friday, 11 September 2020, and it is anticipated that the mater will be finalised before the end of September 2020,” he said.

“We are very disappointed that such disturbing utterances could be attributed to a female educator. A school environment should be conducive to teach learners, more so to uphold values ... We wish to sincerely apologise to the school community at large about this regrettable incident.”

Pupils said after alerting the principal and his deputy that they were offended by the alleged remarks, they held silent protests on Monday and Tuesday but this was escalated yesterday as angry parents visited the school.