Parents want school principal suspended

BURGERSFORT

The Limpopo department of education confirmed it is investigating allegations against the Laerskool Burgersfort. The parents at the school accused the principal for allegedly covering up acts of misconduct and a sexual assault case. The case is alleged to have been committed by one of the teachers.
The teacher allegedly committed suicide on September 2; this was after a case was opened against him at Burgersfort SAPS.
“To date no communication has been made with parents regarding the sexual assault case,” they said at the meeting.
Currently, there is an online petition which has been signed by more than 700 locals in favour of the removal of the principal.
Speaking to Sekhukhune Times , the spokesperson for the Limpopo Department of Education, Tidimalo Chuene assured this publication that investigations continue in the case.
“The allegations are serious and worrying, there is no way that the department will allow any cover up in this matter. The district director and our human resource team in the department only became aware of the matter on the day the teacher passed away.

“We have requested a report from the school; to get to know how the matter was handled from the day it was reported to the school management and what action was taken.”

The department indicated that the matter has also been refereed to its legal services department.

Renier Buitendag an attorney acting on behalf of Burgersfort Primacy School’s Governing Board said “Our client has received numerous complaints and grievances from Burgersfort Primary School’s parents and staff. The mentioned complaints and grievances have been furnished to Department of Education by way of email as well as at a physical consultation which were held between our client and representatives of Department of Education on the 16 ^th day of September 2021.

“We can confirm that our client has received a response from the Deputy Director of Department of Education, which gives our client the assumption that Department of Education is however busy with their investigation regarding the mentioned complaints and grievances.

“ Our client will not be able to elaborate on the nature of the complaints and grievances at this point in time, as Department of Education is however busy with their investigation and it is our client’s wish not to put same in jeopardy.

“Our client takes the acts of sexual abuse, molestation and even the alleged condoning thereof very serious, as our children are our greatest treasure and it is our responsibility to take care of our children and our community’s children.”

On Tuesday, parents were spotted picketing at the school entrances calling for the principal to be suspended.