Watch: Lesufi slams parents after principal out of Pretoria school

Gauteng’s Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi is talking tough to parents at Laerskook Theresapark in Pretoria, after they violently attempted to chase the school’s principal away.

The principal was accused of bullying staff and having had a hand in the school’s dire financial state and on Thursday, 13 May 2021, angry parents reached their boiling point and decided to “get rid of the problem.” In a video clip taken by one of the parents, the principal is seen being carried on a chair and taken outside, before she falls off.

Parents chased away Laerskool #TheresaPark principal for allegedly abusing teachers who subsiquently quit their jobs, and is also accused of running the school into financial disrepute.

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— 🆄🅼🆂🆆🅷🅴🅽🅸 (@MduZero11) May 13, 2021

Reacting to the clip, Lesufi condemned the incident and has particularly taken issue with the parents’ conduct.

“The violent and disruptive behaviour of some parents at Laerskool Theresapark in Pretoria is unacceptable and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” Lesufi said.

The MEC said the parents had every right to be aggrieved if they believed that the principal was not working in the interests of the school.

“However, no amount of grievances can justify the use of violence on any of our teachers. That is simply non-negotiable. Further, there are processes and procedures, in law, that parents can take when they are having problems with the principals. We cannot condone this unacceptable behaviour”

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi

Gauteng Education dept to probe claims against Laerskool Theresapark principal

It doesn’t end there, however, as Panyaza Lesufi said the Gauteng Education Department would be looking into the allegations levelled against the principal at Laerskool Theresapark.

“We are investigating the allegations that have been levelled against the principal and the School Governing Body. We will communicate the outcome thereof once the investigations are concluded,” Lesufi said.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and we are calling on parents to desist behaving in this fashion or else we will be left with no option but to take drastic steps. We urge the parents to direct the grievances to us and leave school children to learn.”

According to the department, its District Management and intervention team were dispatched to the school, to mediate the fracas between the principal and the parents.