Sexual harassment allegations surface at Mariannhill school

KWAZULU-Natal MEC for Education, Kwazi Mshengu, promised to thoroughly investigate all the issues that have been raised at Mariannpark Primary School.

Issues of safety, governing of the school and allegations of sexual harassment are believed to be the main reasons which led to the recent disruption of classes.

Kwazi Mshengu visited the school on Friday and held a meeting with the parents and educators to establish the core problem.

Addressing the media, Mshengu said he was told by the educators that they fear for their lives after the principal’s house was broken into by armed men.

“They said they are scared the same men might follow the principal to the school and end up hurting them and the children. I was also told that the parents are not happy about how the school is governed.”

Mshengu said they were also aware of the allegations of sexual harassment against the principal and are looking into it.

One of the parents said they were only made aware about two months ago about the problems at the school.

“Apparently it’s something that has been happening for months now. The teachers had a problem with the principal and decided to down tools whenever he came to the school.

The parent of a Grade 3 learner said as a result of being left in the dark by the school governing body about the problems at the school, they opted to choose a task team to deal with these matters.

“It is so sad that every morning as parents we wake up, make lunch boxes and get our children ready for school, only for them to spend the whole day playing in the school fields.

According to the parents, the problem escalated so much that the school was just asking for anyone to come and assist to teach the children. “It is exam time and we are very concerned about what they are going to be tested on as it seems these issues have been going on for a while now,” said the parent.

One of the parents in the task team, Julia Lens said on Monday the teachers are back at school.

“As parents, we are happy that they are back but there are still internal investigations going on. Because of the break-in at the principal’s house, the teachers felt their lives were endangered as well. So they refused to be in school while the principal is there. As soon as he entered gate, the teachers put pens down and made the children play in the school grounds without supervisions and some children have been hurt playing outside,” she said.

Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via Telegram? Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.

Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.