Cape Town - The Western Cape Education Department has decided not to suspend South Peninsula High School principal Brian Isaacs, but has scheduled a disciplinary hearing against him.
Isaacs faces six charges of misconduct and was notified last week of a pre-hearing on April 10 and a disciplinary hearing on April 17.
The charges include that he assaulted a pupil “by hitting him against the back/or shoulder blade with your hand”, conducted himself in an “improper, disgraceful and unacceptable” manner towards two pupils by referring to them as “scum”, intimidated or victimised two pupils by refusing to let them go to class, and failed to carry out an instruction from an official to ensure that the pupils return to school.
Isaacs has denied the allegations and has accused the department of a witch-hunt against him because his school had opposed many policies and other decisions over the years.
“The department insists on charging me but they refuse to give me the names of the complainants. How can I prepare my defence if I do not know who the complainants are?”
Department spokeswoman Millicent Merton said that information would be provided at the pre-hearing.
The department has denied that there is a witch-hunt against Isaacs.
On March 17, staff members from the school sent a letter to provincial education head Penny Vinjevold, demanding the allegations be withdrawn. They said Isaacs had played an integral part in maintaining discipline and academic standards at the school.
In her response to the school, Vinjevold said the department had a “positive duty” to investigate any allegation against any employee “in line with the relevant legislation and prescripts”. The matter was sub judice and “not open for discussion to third parties”.
Last week, criminal charges of assault against Isaacs were withdrawn after the State considered the merits of the matter. The two assault charges had also involved pupils at the school.
Cape Argus