NW education department to oppose Schweizer-Reneke application
The North West Department of Education will oppose trade union Solidarity's court application to reinstate suspended Schweizer-Reneke teacher, Elana Barkhuizen.
The application will be heard on Thursday in the Johannesburg Labour Court.
The trade union served court papers in connection with the race row at Laerskool Schweizer-Reneke last week.
The papers were served on the provincial education department, its MEC Sello Lehari, the school and its governing body.
The row broke out after a picture emerged showing a group of black children apparently separated from a group of white learners in a Grade R class on the first day of the new academic year.
The picture led to anger among parents, political parties and members of the community.
Barkhuizen was suspended by the school's governing body pending an investigation.
The department's spokesperson, Freddy Sepeng, says they will be court on the day to oppose the application.
"We'll be in court tomorrow, but presently we won't discuss the merits or demerits of the case as the case is in sub-judice," says Sepeng.