Investigation reveals misconduct by Pretoria High School for Girls principal

Philipa Erasmus, the principal of Pretoria High School for Girls, was found to have committed misconduct in her handling of racism complaints from Black students.

This was revealed in a report released on Monday, 4 November, after the Gauteng Department of Education commissioned an independent probe that sought to establish whether a culture of racism exists at the school following an alleged racism row in July where 12 matric learners were suspended.

PRETORIA HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS PRINCIPAL FOUND GUILTY OF MISCONDUCT

Attorney Mthuthuzile Charles Mdladlamba said three learners complained to the principal and deputy principal in October 2023. However, the principal mishandled the complaint as she failed to be transparent with the learners about how she dealt with it.

Mdladlamba said the learners kept asking about the status of their complaint, and the deputy principal responsible for discipline advised them that the investigation was pending.

“This was around the same time that the bullying of a learner by 12 learners in a WhatsApp group was reported to the deputy principal. The learners followed up again on the status of their complaint in term two of 2024, and the response was the same.

“This led to the events of 18 July 2024, where there was a protest, and there was bullying of learners of other races by some black learners in response to the WhatsApp group becoming public,” Mdladlamba explained.

“The principal therefore failed to comply with her obligations as set out on the policy of the South African standard for principalship,” he added.

WHITE EDUCATORS AREN’T GREETING FELLOW BLACK COLLEAGUES

Additionally, Mdladlamba said white teachers at Pretoria High School for Girls do not greet their black colleagues “because they do not know whether they are cleaners or educators at the school.

“One needs to qualify this. It’s not all white educators but some staff members. The principal confirmed the allegation that white educators do not greet their black colleagues.

“According to the principal, this is her biggest frustration that she must deal with at the school, including some educators’ ill-treatment of administration staff. The principal further indicated that the challenge is that the administration staff does not want to name the educators who are ill-treating them. Thus, she cannot take the necessary disciplinary steps against them,” he added.