Cape Town – The principal of Pretoria High School for Girls, Phillipa Erasmus, has been placed on precautionary suspension for three months following allegations of racism that led to the suspension of 12 students.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane announced the suspension on Tuesday and barred Erasmus from contacting students, parents, and staff.
“We have appointed the deputy principal to come and act in the interim,” he said, according to IOL.
The suspensions of the 12 learners, including eight prefects, came after new evidence of racism was uncovered.
ICYMI: Gauteng Education
places Pretoria High School for Girls principal on suspension.MEC Matome Chiloane confirmed the precautionary suspension of the principal for 90 days pending an investigation.
According to the department this is following instances of suspected racism… pic.twitter.com/AIJEoh66Pk
— POWER987News (@POWER987News) July 30, 2024
Complaints included claims of preferential treatment for white students and inadequate responses to black students’ grievances.
Chiloane urged the school’s governing body to expedite a disciplinary hearing to address the issues and restore normalcy.
Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and some students staged pickets during Chiloane’s visit to the school.
Fighters let’s retweet. We are uprooting racism to its entirety at Pretoria Girls High School pic.twitter.com/HCuKZ0yAsD
— Mathebula (@Mathebula_T_I) July 30, 2024
Chiloane also announced that eight of the 12 suspended pupils, who were prefects, had lost their positions and privileges, The Citizen reported.
“They were withdrawn immediately, together with the privileges that come with that particular endorsement, support or approval of being a prefect,” the report quoted him as saying.
Chiloane also said that some teachers were implicated and will report to the district until the investigation was complete.
The MEC stressed the seriousness of racism and affirmed that it would not be tolerated.
He said that the school governing body (SGB) will handle the investigation, though an independent probe could be considered if necessary.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
