Johannesburg - Learning at Roodepoort Primary School was again disrupted on Tuesday morning when some teachers didn’t show up for work fearing reprisals from angry parents.
The school, which is in a predominantly coloured area, has been marred by allegations of racism and irregularities after the appointment of a black principal, Nomathemba Molefe, last year.
Parents congregated outside the school on Tuesday morning, west of Joburg, under the watchful eye of armed police officers.
One of them threatened to assault a security guard on the premises.
“Come outside and I’ll show you who will win in a fight,” one of the parents told the guard.
But the guard closed the gate and did not retaliate.
He told The Star that the black and white teachers, including the principal, had not shown up for work as they feared for their lives.
In recent weeks there had been violence against those teachers, including when parents threw a petrol bomb at the deputy principal’s car, he said.
The guards, who were hired by Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, managed to douse the flames and prevent injuries.
Cecilia Springkaan, a grandparent who was outside the school on Tuesday, said she had sent her grandchild to school and everything was functioning as normal.
But the guard said only coloured pupils and teachers had arrived.
On Monday, Lesufi threatened to close down the troubled school should disruptions continue.
“I call on teachers to return to work on Tuesday to ensure that learning continues.
“I also appeal to members of the community to respect the processes at the school… I will not hesitate to close the school down should there be any form of disruption on Tuesday,” he said on Monday.
In April, Lesufi closed down the school, but reopened it days later. He said the children would be sent to other schools should the school be closed down again.
The Star