Glenardle unseats principal

THE school governing body of a Bluff junior primary school has – after a lengthy court battle – successfully unseated its new school principal.

A Durban High Court judge set aside yesterday the Department of Education’s appointment of Priscilla Bedesi as principal of Glenardle Junior Primary.

The matter was expected to be argued yesterday but no one from the department’s legal team was in court.

Judge Gregory Kruger subsequently made an order that Bedesi’s appointment be set aside.

He also ruled that the process of appointing a new school principal resume but that pending the outcome, Bedesi remain in the post – as she has done since last January.

Costs were awarded to the governing body.

The matter has been in and out of court for a year.

The governing body – represented by advocate Stuart Hoar, acting on instruction of Dudley Stilwell – first brought forward its application last February after a clash at the school.

The department opposed the governing body’s application and, in court papers, was adamant that Bedesi’s appointment was lawful, but the governing body claimed that was not the case.

In its heads of arguments, the governing body argued that the appointment had been in contravention of the Employment Equity Act.

It also argued that appointing an Indian female, who had not been recommended, instead of a black female, who had been recommended, on the grounds of “equity,” indicated that there was an “ulterior motive”.

Former principal Denise Whitehorn retired from Glenardle in October 2015. A committee – comprising members of the governing body and department officials – subsequently interviewed five short-listed candidates for her post.

But the governing body claimed the committee was forced to adjust its scores and that, as a result, Bedesi scored higher than their preferred candidates.

When the governing body submitted its recommendations, Bedesi’s name was not on the list.

But, it claimed, the department subsequently forced it to add to the list and include the names of all shortlisted candidates.

When Bedesi was awarded the post last January, the governing body lodged a grievance with the department.

The situation came to a head last February, when department officials allegedly “stormed” the school and took control of the principal’s office, ensuring Bedesi took over the running of the school, apparently with a bodyguard at her side.

Speaking outside court yesterday, the vice-chairman of the governing body, Donovan Avenant, said he was relieved.

He said it had been a lengthy process and he was pleased with the outcome.

Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said the court’s ruling had been noted.

He added that the department would study it to determine whether to take the matter further.