Wordsworth principal under fire
“We asked the district to suspend her pending an investigation, but nothing has happened,” said the SGB.
Some members of the School Governing Body (SGB) of Wordsworth High School in Farrarmere are demanding the immediate resignation of the principal, Anna Sematle.
The SGB locked Sematle inside the school premises on February 13, accusing her of mismanaging funds, nepotism and violating sections of the South African Schools Act (SASA).
“Ever since she was appointed, things have become sour and challenging,” said the SGB chairperson, Brian Nkomotse.
He accused her of dividing the SGB and making important decisions with the treasurer without consulting the rest of the governing body.
The principal is also accused of meddling in the affairs of the SGB rather than focusing on academic issues. This, according to Nkomotse, resulted in last year’s matric pass rate dropping from 85% to 70%.
In addition, he said, the principal has stopped sporting and other extra-curricular activities, which created learner misbehaviour, and has closed the tuck shop, saying it is a wasteful expenditure.
Sematle has also been accused of nepotism and not following the recruitment processes for vacant teaching posts.
“We demand these teachers be removed because the proper process was not followed when they were employed,” said the chairperson for infrastructure and maintenance, Boikhutso Huma.
He raised concerns about the deteriorating school infrastructure and the lack of maintenance of the sports fields and the school perimeter.
“We have challenges, like gambling and selling illegal substances, in the school. Learners hit each other with boxing gloves because we do not have security.
“The roofs leak and tiles peel off because we don’t have a caretaker,” Huma said.
Preliminary investigation
The Benoni City Times tried to get comment on the allegations from Sematle. Her assistant referred us to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE).
The GDE spokesperson, Steve Mabona, told the City Times that the department is aware of the issues at the school.
“We are aware of the protest and parents complaining about the principal, alleging she is misusing school funds and bringing in teachers who are her friends,” he said.
Mabona said the department visited the school on February 13 to intervene in the dispute.
“The matter is being investigated. Our preliminary investigation reveals that the finance committee of Wordsworth High School, including the SGB, is responsible for the use of funds.
“It also reveals that recruitment processes are followed at all times when there is a vacant post to be filled at the school.”
According to Mabona, in July, the school was cited under Section 25 of the SASA concerning the failure of the SGB to perform its duties.
According to Section 25 of the Act:
• If a governing body has ceased to perform its functions, the Head of Department must appoint sufficient persons to perform those functions for a period not exceeding three months;
• The Head of Department may extend the period referred to in subsection (1) by further periods not exceeding three months each, but the total period may not exceed one year;
• The Head of Department must ensure that a governing body is elected in terms of this Act within a year after the appointment of persons contemplated in subsection (1).
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