Durban - The mysterious death of a principal in Richards Bay marred the opening of a Zululand school, and forced Premier Senzo Mchunu to get involved.
The school’s parents had threatened to chase the teachers out of the school as they blamed the staff for the death of the principal of Mjabuliseni Secondary School in Esikhawini township outside Richards Bay.
The badly burnt body of Msizeni Mkhwanazi, 40, who was suppose to start working as principal at the school on Wednesday after being appointed late last year, was found inside his burnt-out vehicle on Sunday morning.
Mchunu heard the news of Mkhwanazi’s death while touring the uThungulu District to observe the opening of the local schools.
School governing body chairman Nkosinathi Ntuli said parents were excited when Mkhwanazi was introduced to them last year.
“But we will have a parents’ meeting (on Thursday) to inform them about his death and funeral arrangements,” said Ntuli.
A source at the school said a number of teachers were unhappy about the appointment.
“Mkhwanazi was a teacher in this school some years ago before he was transferred to another school. Parents liked his teaching and leadership style,” the source said.
However, Ntuli refused to be drawn into allegations that the parents blamed the teachers for Mkhwanazi’s death.
Police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane confirmed that a 40-year-old man had allegedly been set alight inside his vehicle at Siyaqhubeka forest in KwaDlangezwa. He said the motive for the killing was unknown, and Mtunzini police were investigating a case of murder.
No arrests had been made.
Uthungulu district director David Chonco told Mchunu that two other high schools in the district, Zimeme and Mashanandana, in Mtunzini, were also unstable.
“Pupils in these (two) schools had told department officials late last year that ‘these are your teachers and not ours, so hambani nabo – take them away’.
“They also used stones to break windows. They were angry about the quality of food and also demanded clean tap water,” he said.
Mchunu visited Exhaphozini Primary School, and Umdlamfe and Empangeni high schools on Wednesday as part of the province’s monitoring of the opening of schools. MPLs had divided themselves into groups and spread across the province.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and provincial Education MEC Peggy Nkonyeni visited schools in Vryheid on Wednesday.
Mchunu, who was accompanied by MPLs, had planned to visit Prince Mkhombisi and Dumanikahle high schools on Thursday. However, his schedule would now involve visiting the three troubled schools to broker peace among parents, teachers and pupils.
At Umdlamfe, Mchunu lashed out at the school principal, Sibonelo Mkhize, who had blamed the declining pass rate on the Caps curriculum, ill discipline, drug abuse and absenteeism. The school scored 55% in last year’s matric results, down from 2013’s 74%.
Mchunu was not happy that classrooms were dirty and the library and multipurpose centre disorganised.
Mkhize had told Mchunu that the children were complaining that under Caps the exam papers were tough.
However, Mchunu did not accept that excuse.
“How do children know that Caps is tough? Other schools have performed very well under the same Caps. It is you who are telling them that it is tough. Children should not be told anything about Caps.”
He said the government would not help principals who complained about their work.
The Mercury