Pretoria Girls High principal suspended amid racism storm at school
The principal of Pretoria Girls High has been suspended pending an investigation into allegations of racism at the school.
Twelve pupils were suspended for allegedly sharing offensive messages on a WhatsApp group about their black classmates.
Eight of the girls were prefects and have since been stripped of their titles.
Addressing media at the school on Tuesday, Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said the principal has been provisionally suspended for three months after it was found that previous reports of racism had gone unattended.
"There were some determinations that we saw, and new evidence that had come forward, that this was not a recent incident. There have been such complaints for some time, from last year as well, that were raised by some of the learners.
"One of the whistleblowers who came forward was victimised, but she did come forward."
The principal, who was appointed to the position in 2018, lives on the school premises and will remain there despite the suspension.
However, Chiloane says the principal has been barred from making any contact with staff and pupils at the school while the investigation is underway.
In 2016, a group of pupils at the school staged a protest against the school's code of conduct, which discriminated against black girls' natural hair.
Interventions at the school included diversity training. However, some parents said their children continued to experience discrimination.
The Education Department admitted that there was a need to follow up on progress after interventions had been implemented.
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