Ongoing strike at Thabampshe Primary School
Ga-Masemola
Yesterday learners at Thabampshe primary school were seen heading to school after the week of disruption of learning and teaching by parents.
Guardians accused school principal of maladministration, mismanagement and dictatorship.
They decided to shut down the school while consultations were underway between them and the responsible stakeholders.
According to the parents they shut down the school because they wanted to get attention from the Department of Education.
Few weeks back after Principal Mapheto was sacked, the Head of Department (HOD) was appointed to lead the educators.
But the community blamed Masemola circuit manger, Tebogo Mnguni for not working hand in hand with appointed HOD to ensure that the school runs properly.
Instead, Mnguni was seen having a meeting with teachers reassuring them that Mapheto will be brought back.
Mampholodi Kgatuke, community member said Mnguni told the educators that if Mapheto was not brought back learners would not receive their term reports and assistant teachers would not get paid.
As a result on March 16th, members of the community closed schools in Thabampshe area and marched to the circuit.
On their arrival they found members of the Public order who refused them entry in the offices. Members of the Public order stated that the march was not permitted therefore only few leaders would be allowed to access the premises.
“We wanted to hold Mnguni accountable because he was not taking us serious,” said Kgatuke after discovered Mnguni was not present.
“We called him and he said we should write a formal invitation for urgent meeting and we did that,” she said.
Kgatuke said an email was written imploring urgent meeting between Mnguni, district director and the province.
An urgent meeting was held at Masemola Police station on March 18th.
“Various stakeholders attended the meeting including our Royal House representatives here in Ga-Masemola, local ward councillor, ward committee, SGBs of all schools in Thabampshe except Matlebjoane, representative from the District and Mnguni,” Kgatuke explained.
In the meeting attended stakeholders agreed Mapheto was unfit to be a school principal based on the presented reasons by members of the community.
On the following day, Mapheto handed over 12 laptops, electricity card, tablet and phone and school keys.
“We also tabled motion of no confidence against Mnguni but the district representative said he would deliver report as the issue was above his power,” said Kgatuke.
She said a task team was elected to investigate and to ensure Mapheto pays the money which was contributed by parents over farewell function which many were unsatisfied with.
“Few weeks back we went to open a case against Mapheto who was in denial of handing over school property. The police advised us to approach Mnguni as he has the authority to take them but he had already betrayed us by having a meeting with teachers to ensure them about Mapheto’s return to the school,” she concluded
