The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has been criticised for its management of the recent “racism” controversy at Pretoria High School for Girls. Picture: iStock
The Gauteng Member of the Executive Council for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Matome Chiloane released an investigative report concerning Pretoria High School for Girls on Monday.
Earlier this year, in July, claims of racism in a WhatsApp group saw 12 pupils, including prefects, being suspended.
The suspension against the pupils was lifted, and the pupils were reinstated.
The pupils allegedly made racist comments in a WhatsApp group about the ongoing dissatisfaction among black pupils regarding issues they faced at the school, alluding to these issues as being insignificant.
Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) Spokesperson Steve Mabona said the investigation sought to ascertain concerns from various stakeholders about a potential culture of racism within the institution.
11:30 In the independent investigation launched to address allegations of racism, bullying, favoritism, and other issues, it was discovered that the principal’s husband utilised the school’s vehicle and managed the estate’s gardening service.
11:35 Chiloane said he engaged with Gauteng Premier Lesufi about what was going on and also added there was no beef with the Thabo Mbeki Foundation after they criticised the department for not responding to the allegations sooner.
11:38 Chiloane said he was happy that the 12 pupils were let back to school after being suspended earlier this year because they wanted all the pupils to pass.
He said the department had to launch an investigation into the culture of the school after various reports of alleged racism in 2016, 2020 and then in 2023 and 2024 were received.
11:42 Mthuthuzile Charles Mdladlamba director of Mdladlamba Attorneys presented the independent investigation findings that include allegations of white teachers not greeting black teachers. “However, this couldn’t be confirmed because when I interviewed them, the teachers did not want to name the teacher who refused to greet them.
Mdladlamba said they didn’t look into the matter of the alleged racism in the WhatsApp group as it was already dealt with by the school governing body (SGB)
11:48 The principal and deputy principal were reinstated from Monday, bit were further implicated in the independent investigation.
11:52 Chiloane said there’s no misalignment between department and the SGB and adds that the school was still fully functional. “I don’t tolerate racism. I hate racism because I know what it does,” he said.
NOW READ: Mbeki: Report tackles education dept for racism smears, unfair suspensions
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.
