The headmaster of the prestigious St Andrew’s College in Makhanda, Alan Thompson has stepped down in the wake of a damning Review Board report into allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying, and substance abuse at the school.
The Review Board was chaired by retired judge Dyalin Chetty, assisted by two educationalists. The terms of reference for the Enquiry was shared with the school community last year.
In a statement to the Andrean community on Wednesday, the Council of St Andrew’s College said it had the opportunity to consider the findings and recommendations contained in the nearly 90-page report by the Review Board.
The report found, among other things that the evidence presented at the Enquiry “demonstrated, quite unequivocally”, that former teacher and water polo coach David Mackenzie “was grooming boys.”
But, the Council said the Review Board did not refer to allegations, nor make findings of sexual abuse.
“The Report finds that Alan Thompson, Johan Pretorius (the Espin Housemaster at the time) and certain (un-named) senior members of staff had not exercised their best endeavours to investigate complaints against Mackenzie.”
It further states that they had “not taken appropriate steps to correct, counsel or otherwise discipline Mackenzie when the various complaints were received: while also failing to employ “sufficient safeguards and measures to ensure that students were not subjected to inappropriate attention by Mackenzie.”
The Review Board report also noted that “bullying was deeply entrenched at St Andrew's College, and the most damaging cultural pattern was the culture of secrecy” adding that there were also references to a “Code of Fear”.
“Given the findings of the Review Board, Council has agreed with Alan Thompson that he will step down as Headmaster of St Andrew's College with immediate effect,” the Council statement said.
It also noted that Thompson “strongly refutes and strenuously denies” parts of the report.
Sections of the report were also redacted to “protect the identity of minors and other witnesses who provided evidence under the confidentiality provisions as well as for other stated reasons.”
The Review Board also considered evidence around a single case of substance abuse involving vaping, Ritalin and butane and associated bullying.
“Based on this evidence, the Review Board found that (housemaster) Scott Jackson and Alan Thompson did not exercise their best endeavours to investigate incidents raised with them.”
The Council said Aidan Smith, the Second Master of St Andrew's College, will immediately assume the position of interim Headmaster.
"The Report presents numerous actions and areas for improvement to ensure that any incidents of predatory behaviour, bullying, substance abuse and other forms of misconduct are rooted out and that the duty of care to the boys of St Andrew’s College is lived out on a daily basis," the Council said.
