Cape Town - Three teachers were chased off the grounds of their Kraaifontein school and told never to return, as protests over the dismissal of the principal continued on Tuesday.
Imvumelwano Primary in Wallacedene was closed for several days last month and again on Tuesday after the dismissal of the principal on misconduct charges sparked protests by parents and residents who want him to be reinstated.
There was a strong police presence around the school and a heap of rubble, that had been set alight earlier, was still smouldering outside the school gate by about noon.
The principal had been charged with “five charges of misconduct under sub-sections 18(1)(dd), 18(1)(q) and 18(1)(s) relating to sexual assault and harassment, and two charges of misconduct relating to dishonesty under section 18(1) (ee) of the Employment of Educators Act”.
Chippa Arosi, the chairman of the SA National Civic Organisation in the Kraaifontein area, said members of a steering committee, which includes himself, governing body members and other residents had tried to intervene, but the “community” demanded that the three teachers leave their classrooms.
“They were then chased away.”
He said the three were among 11 teachers who residents accused of conspiring against the principal.
Meanwhile, Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schäfer announced on Tuesday that her office had received new evidence in the case.
Last week her office received a report from an independent investigating officer.
She said this investigation had found that the process by the Western Cape Education Department had been “procedurally and substantively fair” and that there was nothing that occurred in the duration of that process which, in their minds, would justify an approach to a court for the overturning of the dismissal on that basis.
It was, however, recommended that the principal be advised to refer the matter to the Education Labour Relations Council for arbitration, “notwithstanding that the principal had refused to pursue this avenue beforehand”.
“However, subsequent to receiving the report, my office then received new evidence, in the form of a sworn statement pertaining to the facts of this case and which may, or may not, have had an influence on the charges that were laid, the evidence that was led and hence the findings of the disciplinary panel in this matter.”
She said there had been an agreement with officials that, based on the new evidence received, they would not oppose any application for condonation, which the principal was now advised to launch.
“I now request the community to respect my decision and, if they so choose, lawfully participate in that arbitration process further, once initiated by the principal.”