Parents Want Schweizer Reneke Principal Suspended

The principal of Laerskool Schweizer-Reneke must also be suspended pending a probe into a racial incident at the school, irate parents said on Thursday.

“The principal must be suspended,” they told North West Education member of the executive council (MEC) Sello Lehari.

Lehari was at the school to further investigate an alleged racial incident after a picture depicting four black children seated at a corner, separated from 18 white children in the Grade R class went viral in social media on Wednesday.

The teacher Elana Barkhuizen reportedly sent the picture to parents in a WhatsApp group showing them that the children were settled well on their first day at school.

Lehari announced that Barkhuizen was suspended with immediate effect.

“The teacher Elana Barkhuizen is suspended with immediate effect,” Lehari told community members after he had a closed meeting with the school management and other stakeholders.

He said Barkhuizen was suspended to allow for the investigation to proceed unhindered.

“The school explained that the black learners were seated at a separate table because they did not understand English and Afrikaans. We did not accept their explanation,” he said to rousing applause.

Community members painted a picture of deep-rooted racism at the school and asked him to suspend the principal as well because the principal was the accounting officer.

“The principal must go. You cannot suspend the teacher and leave the principal, the principal is the accounting officer,” said one parent.

The Young Communist League in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati said the MEC should not just suspend the teacher but, should also close the school temporarily for the affected learners to heal properly.