Cape Town - Vukukhanya Primary School in Gugulethu was closed for a second day on Wednesday as protests over the return of the principal continued.
Tyres and rubbish were burnt and buckets of human waste were emptied in front of the school gates.
There was a strong police presence.
The protests started yesterday after principal Nontsikelelo Seabe’s return to school on Monday. She had been working at the district office since February while officials investigated allegations concerning her.
According to the Western Cape Education Department, the investigation found there were no grounds to prevent the principal from taking up her post.
However, parent Zukile Siyo described Seabe as “a dictator”. Other complaints against her included that she had stopped several projects at the school and had chased a teacher away.
Officials arrived at the school this morning but some parents said they were outraged because one of the officials only spoke to a few parents and not the whole group. More tyres and other rubbish were thrown on to the fire after the officials left and parents and children toyi-toyied outside gates.
Western Cape Education Department spokesman Paddy Attwell said yesterday an investigation had not found any reasons why the principal should not continue in her job.
He said officials had tried to ensure Seabe’s return to the school in March, and again, on Monday but she had been prevented from doing so.
“Officials have explained the outcome of the investigation to the school governing body and teachers, and have developed an intervention to facilitate her return,” he said. “Our Safe Schools division asked police to maintain a presence. Officials will continue to discuss the issues concerned with the relevant role plyers to ensure the principal’s return.”
Cape Argus