Release of Laerskool Schweizer-Reneke report delayed
The release of the much-anticipated report into allegations of racism at Laerskool Schweizer-Reneke in North West has been postponed until next week.
The province’s education MEC Sello Lehari was expected to release the report on Thursday following the completion of a preliminary investigation.
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.
The department’s Freddy Sepeng says there are a couple of issues that need clarifying.
"Yesterday, Solidarity put it clearly that they are taking the department to court. Now, we didn't want to come out with a preliminary report without consulting our legal advisers.”
Sepeng says the Lehari will release the report as soon as he gets the green light from the legal team.
A teacher at the school, Elana Barkhuizen, was suspended pending an investigation into her conduct.
An emotional Barkhuizen later told the media that she was not the teacher but merely took the picture to send to parents.
The department denied suspending Barkhuizen, saying she was not employed by them but by the school’s governing body.