Having successfully run Tulip Combined School, an independent school that is subsidised by the Gauteng Department of Education, the principal and director, Noluthando Nyandeni, now finds herself in a fight for her job while other directors are seeking to oust her.
The Roodepoort CBD-based school was crowded with parents, officials from various departments, politicians and concerned community members on Tuesday, 8 October, to stand in support of Noluthando, who felt she was being victimised by two other directors, based on her race and gender.
In an interview with the Record, a visibly angry Noluthando spoke about the allegations against her. “This is pure victimisation because I’m a black woman,” she yelled.
“If you look at the organogram we are at the same level as directors, and at what point is he superior to me?” the principal asked, referring to one of the male directors who is suspected of being behind the alleged ousting campaign.
“He doesn’t own the school, he only owns the building for which the school pays rent. I’ve been the principal of this school for more than 22 years,” she said, boasting to have led the school to the top in the Johannesburg West District with straight 100 per cent matric pass rates in the previous years.
“How am I incompetent?” she asked. “They are coming with charges, among them that I’m giving learners bursaries, giving the school hall to the community to use, and keeping teachers who are supposed to be temporarily incapacitated,” she explained.
Noluthando disputed the allegations; however, she agreed to the temporary employment of a staff member who was given an extension due to the need at the school. She alleged that the very same employee was encouraged by the directors to go to the CCMA to file a case of illegal employment. “They wanted him to sue the school for a lot of money so that other directors could see me as a liability and consequently be expelled,” she said, and indicated that the matter is being heard at the CCMA.
The main reason behind this alleged smear campaign, according to Noluthando, is that she started asking questions about salary increases for teachers this year. “I wanted figures on the table to ascertain why the teachers weren’t given their increases. After this they came with a lawyer to suspend me. I’m refuse to allow it, because we are at the same level,” she explained.
Mike Motaung, Ward 84 chairperson for the EFF, saw the allegations as baseless and vowed to support the principal. “The principal has been good to the school and community, so these allegations against her are baseless. The principal has always been a community person and has assisted it when it needs a venue to hold meetings. As the EFF we decided to be part of this matter because we can’t let the principal be harassed by other people who have intentions of hijacking the school,” he firmly said.
Motaung also disclosed an incident of racism at the school when an employee called teachers monkeys. The incident was confirmed by Noluthando and other staff members.
The Record’s mother publication, Citizen, reported that Buang Jones, the commission’s acting head of legal services at the South African Human Rights Commission, had visited the school and said the commission would hand the case over to the Gauteng Department of Basic Education as the school was also in the midst of an administration battle between its three directors.
A concerned parent, who gave up work to be at the school, questioned the ousting of the principal. “Something about this is fishy. As stakeholders of the school, we were supposed to be informed about this matter; also, I don’t understand how a director can dismiss another director,” the parent said, trying to make sense of the situation.
Being a critical time of the year, parents also voiced their concerns about learning and teaching being disrupted. However, the principal assured parents that learners were addressed and instructed to remain in classes.
One of the directors in disputes with the principal, Russel Wolpe, said the matter is being addressed by his attorney. “In her capacity as an employee, the Principal has been served with a notice of precautionary suspension, pending the outcome of a disciplinary enquiry in respect of alleged misconduct. The suspended principal has refused to vacate the school,” he said.
Lastly, Noluthando said the Gauteng Department of Education and other stakeholders had been informed of the problems.
GDE has been approached for comment. This is a developing story.
