The KwaZulu-Natal Education Department MEC Kwazi Mshengu has requested a commission of inquiry to look into racism occurring at schools in the province, after the release of a report regarding racism at Grosvenor Girls High School.
KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu has requested that a commission of inquiry be established at a provincial level to look into racism at all schools within the province.
This comes after the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department released a report regarding the alleged racism, mismanagement of funds, and nepotism occurring at Grosvenor Girls High School.
Parents and learners protested against these issues at the school when the MEC visited the school.
Learners accused the principal as well as some teachers at the school of racism and an investigation ensued in which an independent panel found that racism at the school is systematic and structural and that all aspects at the school is dominated by white authority.
The report revealed instances in which the principal made use of derogatory, dehumanizing, and discriminative language when dealing with issues relating to race.
The investigations state that the principal has told teachers at the school to recruit more white learners with the reasoning that “the school belongs to white learners.”
The report also found that there was financial mismanagement of R3.4 million at the school as well as the irregular appointment of some of the staff.
The MEC said that the contracts of those members of staff who were employed without meeting the requirements will be terminated.
He said that the principal and other staff involved in appointing these individuals will be held liable for any funds paid to the staff who were appointed without meeting the basic requirements.
The principal will also be charged with misconduct relating to racism, financial mismanagement, and the irregular appointment of staff members.
Mshengu has also directed legal services to lay a complaint against the principal with the Human Rights Commission.
“We all have a duty to protect our learners from any forms of racial attitudes and provide them with a better chance to be a generation that will live in a truly non-racial and united South Africa,” said Mshengu.
He says that the commission of inquiry will help the department to uncover financial sufferings and develop Norms and Standards to prevent racial abuses at the schools in the province.
