Precautionary suspension for principal accused of racism
Learners will be issued with letters informing their parents of the process to be undertaken and a request to parents to allow those learners who wish to testify, to do so.
THE KZN Department of Education placed principal of Grosvenor Girls’ High School, Linda Jorgenson, on a precautionary suspension pending the investigation on the allegations of racism and financial irregularities on Monday, March 7.
Spokesperson for the Department of Education, Muzi Mahlambi, said Jorgenson’s suspension follows advice from the independent panel appointed to investigate allegations of racism and financial irregularities at the school.
“The panel has been at work and in consultation with the department over the weekend. Upon looking at the correspondence submitted to it by the department, the panel deemed it fit to recommend the suspension of the principal in order to facilitate an investigation that will not be marred by any difficulties for those who will voluntarily tender the evidence. Learners will be issued with letters informing their parents of the process to be undertaken and a request to parents to allow those learners who wish to testify, to do so,” said Mahlambi.
Parents and learners (current and former) will also be allowed to come forward and submit any information in relation to the aforementioned allegations and investigation thereof, and they may do so by contacting Siphiwe Moloi on 082 382 5944.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Chaos as MEC addresses Grosvenor learners
The suspension comes after a meeting between angry learners, concerned parents and the KZN MEC for Education, Kwazi Mshengu, at the school on Tuesday, March 1. Mshengu appointed a panel to address issues affecting the learners, and will re-address the allegations after the panel concludes with their investigation after 21 days and reports back to the department.
Meanwhile, the EFF in eThekwini called for the immediate suspension of the principal of the school. Spokesperson for the EFF in the eThekwini region, Mazwi Blose, said the EFF was contacted by learners from the school, after they protested. Learners who toy-toyed and disrupted classes claimed they were tired of the continuous racial discrimination felt by a large group of the girls.
In her statement to the MEC, chairperson of the school’s Representative Council for Learners, Nondumiso Simelane, said she, along with her black schoolmates, needed their voices to be heard.
ALSO READ: WATCH: New committee to handle racism issues at Grosvenor high
In his address to learners, Mshengu said the allegations were viewed as serious and needs to be dealt with in a thorough and objective way, where justice will be served to those who were victims of racist attitudes.
“An independent panel will interview those involved and proceed with finding a permanent solution to end racism. We must facilitate a conducive environment for teaching and learning. No one must feel excluded, victimised or marginalised in any sort of way. We do not want a situation where the future of the learners are impacted negatively due to disruptions,” he said.
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