Cape Town - A former Wynberg Girls’ High School housemother has come forward to validate claims made by girls living at the Waterloo boarding house.
The girls claim they were racially and verbally abused and discriminated against by the house superintendent.
The former employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said she had worked there for nine years before leaving, saying the superintendent and the way the school was run were part of the reasons she left.
“I was there when they came with allegations. We had a meeting and she was very angry. She was walking up and down, sweating and she was just so angry.”
The woman said she had sent an e-mail to the department about the issues and had not heard back from them.
She said there were no disciplinary processes and girls were always scared of losing their scholarships.
“If you are on scholarship they just send e-mails to the sponsor to try to get it taken away. None were taken, but that is what the school does. They (girls) are scared to talk because they might lose their scholarships.”
She said many parents ignored the issues as they did not want their children to lose their scholarships. Many girls were told to stay until they finished and focus on their studies.
The house superintendent has been there for about four years, and the former employee said she was nice in the beginning.
“When she started she was all over the girls and buying them things, then her true colours started to show.”
The school’s principal, Shirley Harding, said she had not been present at a meeting held by the Department of Education on Monday to try resolve the issues, adding she had been instructed not to speak to the media.
The department said a district official had gone to the school and that their investigation was ongoing. “The learners will not be victimised in any way for voicing their concerns... The circuit manager provided the hostel learners with her mobile number and said they should contact her at any stage,” a statement said.
It went on to say that pupils were writing their final exams and called for the media to respect this.
* Pupils can report any serious concerns directly to the department via the Safe Schools hotline on 0800 45 46 47.
Cape Argus