The principal at the Pretoria High School for Girls has been placed under precautionary suspension for 90 days.
The spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Education, Steve Mabona, confirmed the suspension on Tuesday, a week after 12 white learners were suspended for discussing and planning a protest on a WhatsApp group triggered by alleged racial connotations, micro-aggressions and complaints about black learners which were ventilated through the group,
Mabona says it has been alleged that the principal had not responded to complaints and that there was allegedly a selective application of the school code of conduct, with harsher treatment for black learners, compared to their white counterparts.
He says one of the school's deputy principals has been appointed to lead the school until the investigation is completed.
The disciplinary process will continue on Wednesday while the Department will be conducting a diversity and cohesion programme, which will be regularly monitored to ensure its efficacy.
The Department encouraged learners not to tire from reporting ill-discipline or transgressions against the school code of conduct, including parents.
Mabona says according to information at their disposal the School alerted the Tshwane South District about a planned protest organised by the learners scheduled for the 19th of July which was discussed and planned on a WhatsApp group, solely consisting of white learners.
He says the conversations allegedly included racial commentary about the ongoing dissatisfaction among black learners regarding issues they faced at the school, alluding to these issues being insignificant. Similar commentary about a black hair protest by learners that reportedly took place at the school in 2016 was also made in the group chat.
Among their grievances were also allegations of preferential treatment of white learners by the principal and some staff.
Meanwhile, a 13th Grade 12 learner was suspended on Wednesday as as the investigations into the school continues.
The Gauteng Department of Education wishes to confirm that a matric learner from Pretoria High School for Girls was suspended on Wednesday, 31 July 2024, after being seen making statements with racial undertones in a video that has since gone viral on social media.
Mabona says the learner was recorded in a video in February 2024, making statements suspected to have racial undertones. This video has recently gone viral on social media, prompting serious concerns.
The School Governing Body (SGB) will subsequently initiate a formal disciplinary process in due course.
