A Grade 12 class at Tulip Combined School was forced to sit an exam at a neighbouring school after the Roodepoort CBD-based school was shut down by aggrieved parents this morning, Wednesday, 20 November.
The parents, supported by members of the School Governing Body (SGB) and the community, staged the protest outside the school in support of the suspended principal, Noluthando Nyandeni, who is currently embroiled in an ongoing dispute with the two other directors of the school.
Read the initial article here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2019/10/09/battle-among-school-directors-in-roodepoort/
Ms Nyandeni, who is a director and one of the founders of the school, was earlier accused of being incompetent, an accusation which she rubbished. She described the conflict as victimisation because she’s a black woman.
Although she has vowed to occupy her position in spite of the demand to step down, the Record has learnt that she last reported for duty on Wednesday, 13 November, as instructed by her lawyer.
The leader of this protest, Vusumzi Vusi Kula, detailed the reasons behind uproar outside the school. “The school has been shut down mainly because two of the three directors have decided to suspend the principal of the school unconstitutionally and wrongfully. It is for that reason that we came out as a community, inclusive of parents and the SGB, to say NO to the decision that has been taken by these directors,” he explained.
Kula asked how directors can plan to fire another who happens to be on the same level as them, as well as a founding member of the school.
WATCH HERE:
https://www.facebook.com/roodepoortrecord/videos/2473102609596060/
“Ms Nyandeni is the founder of this school and a director as well. The school is a registered non-profit company, with three directors. This means that a decision to dismiss a staff member can only be made through a court of law,” he elaborated, implying that this route was not explored by the two directors.
“Also, there is nothing concrete in the charges laid against Ms Nyandeni,” he said.
When the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) conducted a preliminary investigation into the matter, there was no evidence to substantiate the allegations levelled against Ms Nyandeni, according to GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona.
Also Read:
https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2019/10/10/gde-finds-no-evidence-against-roodepoort-principal/
A meeting between all the parties was set to be convened to discuss a way forward; however Kula said the meeting never took place as the other directors allegedly pulled out.
He then appealed for serious intervention from the GDE, as two staff members who worked closely with the principal had been suspended.
A parent, Creswell Barends, thanked the GDE for transporting the matric learners to West Ridge High School where they sat for their exam. He also said they are unhappy about the conflict currently taking place at the school and feel that the principal is being unfairly treated.
The GDE has been approached for further comment. This is a developing story and an update will be provided as soon as the GDE responds.
