Sandiso Phaliso
More than 50 principals from schools across the Cape Flats, and about 300 parents, pupils and teachers marched against the suspension of South Peninsula High School principal Brian Isaacs.
The group went to the legislature yesterday to demand the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) lift the suspension, which took effect last month. Isaacs also faces disciplinary action.
He was accused of assaulting a pupil, behaving insolently towards a circuit manager, bringing the department into disrepute and having refused to accept a pupil back at school after the department had ordered him to do so.
Isaacs, who was part of yesterday’s march, said he had left the disciplinary hearing and told the presiding officer he needed to attend the march.
Addressing the crowd, he alleged the department was targeting him because he was critical of its policies and decisions by officials.
South Peninsula High School Governing Body chairperson Trevor Shepherd said demands included a meeting between officials and a delegation from the school.
“The persistent failure to constructively deal with these issues is having a destructive impact on our school. The education of our children is being threatened, the morale of our educators affected and our communities are losing faith.”
Wisaal Charles, of the school’s representative council of learners, claimed Isaacs was being victimised, vowing the group would “continue to fight”.
Spine Road High School principal Riyaad Najaar slammed “threatening” letters sent by the department to principals and teachers.
WCED spokesperson Paddy Attwell said Isaacs faced 16 charges in three separate hearings. He deemed Isaacs leaving the hearing misconduct.
“We can’t speculate at this stage on how this incident will affect the hearing.”
He said that as classes were suspended at South Peninsula High because of the march, the department would investigate any breaches to the Educators Act and related laws.