The MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in Gauteng Matome Chiloane released an independent investigative report on Monday, probing allegations of racism at Pretoria High School for Girls.
With the report, Chiloane provided recommendations on how to handle the situation.
This comes after 12 learners from the school were investigated following allegations of racism through a WhatsApp group.
According to Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona, 12 learners who were part of the WhatsApp group were subsequently charged and taken through a formal disciplinary inquiry by the School’s SGB. They were all found not guilty, as the WhatsApp group was deemed to be a private platform.
A 13th learner was also charged and taken through a disciplinary hearing after she was accused of having made racial remarks towards white learners in a video that she made in February 2024 during Black History Month, which is based on an American concept on TikTok was also not found guilty by the disciplinary hearing.
After that, further racism allegations resurfaced at the school, which warranted an independent investigation by the Gauteng Department of Education, which looked into the circumstances surrounding the allegations, the conduct of the principal in handling such allegations, whether the allegations were reported to the department, what actions were taken, and whether there is a general problem of racism at the school.
According to Mabona, the independent investigation found that the learners' issue was not handled properly and that certain breaches and violations were overlooked in the school's previous investigation.
Chiloane said that, in his findings, the school principal lacked transparency throughout all the allegations.
He also recommended that the principal and her deputy be charged with misconduct.
"We will implement the recommendations and bring social cohesion into the school in a manner that involves everyone, learners and teachers alike. We will also bring the school closer to the National Dialogue that the Government of National Unity purports."
