Pretoria High School for Girls principal ‘committed misconduct’ – external probe

TSHWANE - A report into claims of racism at the Pretoria High School for Girls has made damning findings about misconduct and a culture of racism at the prestigious school.

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane released the findings of an external probe at the school on Monday.

It follows allegations of racism after WhatsApp texts were leaked, where at least 12 white learners shared what the education department labeled microaggressions.

ALSO READ: 

• Pretoria High School for Girls pupil says latest racism scandal left her feeling unwelcome
• Pretoria Girls High pupils accused of racism cleared of wrongdoing

Although the school settled the matter, the department ordered a sweeping investigation, including claims dating back to 2020. 

The scope of the independent probe included examining the claims, the circumstances that led to them, and the conduct of school principal Phillipa Erasmus, her deputy, the management team, and the school governing body (SGB).

Charles Mdladlamba, Director of Mdladlamba Attorneys and the lead attorney in the investigation, said Erasmus oversaw the irregular appointments of the finance manager and the estate facility manager.

“Although no conclusive evidence was found that the finance manager was appointed to the position because of her race, the evidence indicates she was favoured for the appointment, and this was not in line with the school’s employment policy. Consequently, the school’s principal contravened the policy on SA Standard for Principalship.”

Additionally, the law firm investigated concerns about improper appointments at the school.

Mdladlamba said several worrying counts of misconduct were uncovered. The full report into claims of misconduct, bullying, and racism is yet to be released. 

“The principal failed to comply with her obligations as set out in the policy of standards for principalship. The principal has therefore committed misconduct.”

He said this related to a failure to address longstanding concerns from both Black and white learners about bullying, as well as complaints by some teachers against each other and learners.

“The deputy principal further failed to act on a bullying incident by learner 10 when she was bullied by other learners here at the school. That incident is not linked to the WhatsApp group.”

The probe also implicated the principal’s husband, who is not an employee at the school.

“The estate manager gave false evidence to the acting director of Tshwane South when he claimed that it’s untrue the principal’s husband was using the school vehicle.”

ZERO TOLERANCE

Chiloane doubled down on his zero-tolerance approach to racism at schools.

“We don’t want our children to live in our schools with a certain animosity of this one against this one," he said.

Mdladlamba made a number of binding recommendations, including charging the principal and deputy with misconduct, as well as the removal of the SGB chairperson.