EFF Gauteng on the independent investigation report on Pretoria Girls High School
4 November 2024
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Gauteng cautiously welcomes the independent investigation report on the persistent institutionalized racism at Pretoria Girls High School.
Following incidents of racism, Black learners protested against hateful and derogatory treatment by White learners and highlighted discriminatory actions by school teachers, leadership, and the School Governing Body (SGB) in their failure to address these grievances. In response, Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, instituted an investigation into the school to address various allegations raised by learners and parents.
Among the allegations were the following:
Failure to Address Racial Discrimination in a WhatsApp Group: The school's Principal and Deputy Principal failed to act on complaints regarding a "Whites Only" WhatsApp group in which racist remarks were made in October 2023. This also includes the selective application of discipline based on race. The investigation confirmed these allegations to be factual.
Unqualified Appointment of the Finance Manager: The Finance Manager, a White individual, was appointed based on race, without meeting qualification requirements or following the application and interview processes required by school
employment policy. External support was later provided to assist this underqualified manager. The findings confirmed that the Finance Manager does not possess the necessary degree Or diploma for the position, and her appointment was favored against school policy.
Preferential Hiring of the Estate Facility Manager: Similarly, the Estate Facility Manager was appointed under preferential circumstances, with the Principal and HR Manager playing central roles in this unlawful appointment. The Manager has also been reported for using racially abusive language toward general workers, a fact confirmed by the investigation.
SGB Interference in Disciplinary Processes: The SGB attempted to interfere with disciplinary processes to protect White learners involved in racist activities.
In light of these findings, the report recommends that the Principal, Deputy Principal, Chief Educators, Estate Manager, HR Manager, and Acting Principal be charged with misconduct. It further calls for the removal of the SGB Chairperson due to interference and insubordination.
The EFF Gauteng wishes to emphasize that this is the second investigation report on the school since the racist scandal first emerged in 2016. NO decisive action has yet been taken to hold responsible parties accountable. The EFF has consistently criticized the ANC's ineffective approach to addressing racism, which continues to expose the younger generation to racial discrimination, nearly 30 years into democracy. We urge the Government and the Human Rights Commission Of South Africa to examine the lack Of genuine transformation in schools, especially in their legal frameworks and governing structures, to prevent such incidents from recurring.
The EFF in Gauteng condemns the Democratic Alliance (DA) for calling for the reinstatement Of the Pretoria Girls High School Principal despite these findings, demonstrating their intent to sustain racism and protect racist practices within society.
We also condemn the Thabo Mbeki Foundation for attempting to interfere in this process and obscure documented cases of racism at the school. These institutions which have positioned themselves as instruments of defense of racism must be seen for what they are and be treated with suspicion and never be relied on with regards to such matters by society.
We call on the Gauteng Provincial Government to move swiftly to suspend and charge those implicated in this report and to send a clear message to schools and institutions that continue to harbor and preserve racism. The EFF has zero tolerance for racism and remains committed to dismantling all forms of institutionalized racism in South Africa.
Issued by Nkululeko Dunga, Provincial Chairperson, EFF Gauteng, 4 November 2024
