Note to Editors: Kindly find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by DA North West Spokesperson on Education, Gavin Edwards.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West welcomes the Department of Education’s action against the School Governing Body (SGB) of the Potchefstroom Boys High School this week.
The SGB has been dissolved by the Department following an investigation that revealed a number of serious irregularities, including certain members of the SGB’s interference with the day-to-day operations of the school.
On Monday this week, the SGB and parents protested at the school, demanding the removal of the Acting Principal, Mr Carel Meyer. In a social media post, the former SGB Vice-Chairperson called for parents to ensure that no teaching and learning take place on that day. This, despite the fact that the SGB had been dissolved last week.
The protest followed an altercation between the former SGB members and the Principal on Saturday when they demanded to enter the school without adhering to Covid-19 regulations. A case of assault has been opened by the Acting Principal.
The DA calls on the Department to fast-track further investigations into the specific allegations of financial mismanagement by the SGB, and expects that any person guilty of criminal activity will be brought to book.
The Department reinstated the Acting Principal to his position of Deputy Principal and has appointed a care-taker principal at the school until the matter is resolved.
We previously raised concerns about SGB members overstepping their legal mandate, which resulted in the school’s late opening at the beginning of the academic year.
The DA is pleased that this matter is receiving attention from the Department and we hope that stability will soon be restored in order for learning to continue. The DA will always place the interests of learners first. What is happening at Potchefstroom Boys High needs to be resolved expeditiously so that learners can be educated in an environment that is free from any sort of nefarious conflict and mismanagement.