Amy Fraser19 November 2024 | 15:17

Pretoria Girls High SGB takes legal action against Gauteng Education Department over racism dispute

This follows a significant incident on 24 July, when 12 pupils from PHSG, including eight prefects, were suspended due to accusations of racist behaviour.

Pretoria Girls High SGB takes legal action against Gauteng Education Department over racism dispute

Pretoria High School for Girls. Picture: Pretoria High School for Girls/Facebook

John Perlman interviews Craig Hezlett, SGB Chairperson at Pretoria High School for Girls.

Listen below.

The School Governing Body (SGB) of Pretoria High School for Girls (PHSG) has initiated a court application against the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) in response to a contentious investigation into alleged racism within the school and the results of an independent inquiry into its culture.

This legal action follows a significant incident on 24 July, when 12 pupils from PHSG, including eight prefects, were suspended due to accusations of racist behaviour.

RELATED: Pretoria High School for Girls: Govt to launch independent investigation into all racism allegations

The allegations were related to the pupils' participation in a WhatsApp group that reportedly contained messages with racial implications and "microaggressions."

"We were hoping to be helped and protected by the Department and unfortunately it's been the adverse, so we have been left with no option as the SGB to stand up for the learners."
- Craig Hezlett, SGB Chairperson – Pretoria High School for Girls 

Hezlett says the SGB is demanding the release of the findings from the investigation conducted by Mdladlamba Attorneys.

He notes that while the findings were announced by Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane
 on 4 November, they have yet to be made available to the school.

Hezlett expresses concern that since the 12 pupils were exonerated from allegations of racism, the SGB has felt subjected to a "witch hunt" aimed at uncovering supposed racism within the school, which he deems "uncalled for".

"We just feel that putting the principal, learners and the school through what we've been through in the last three months has been detrimental to what we're supposed to be doing, which is supporting the learners through academics."
- Craig Hezlett, SGB Chairperson – Pretoria High School for Girls 

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.