GDE must stop victimising Pretoria High School for Girls Principal
The Gauteng Department of Education's (GDE) continued persecution of Pretoria High School for Girls' principal, Mrs Philippa Erasmus, who has now been found guilty on a frivolous charge because her husband assisted with landscaping at the school as a voluntary act is unacceptable and delays progressive learning and teaching at this school.
As the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng, we once again call on the GDE MEC, Matome Chiloane, to reverse this decision and put an end to the ongoing harassment and humiliation of this dedicated principal who is unjustly denied the opportunity to teach and guide learners at Pretoria High School for Girls.
This disgraceful outcome reinforces our consistent assertion: under MEC Matome, the department will go to great lengths to justify its political vendetta against Mrs Erasmus.
The initial investigation focused on allegations of racism, from which she was cleared. However, instead of accepting this outcome, the department, represented by Mdladlamba Attorneys, strayed from the original terms of reference in a desperate attempt to find evidence that could prove the principal's guilt and subsequent punishment.
Finding a principal guilty of her husband assisting the school, without compensation, is not only absurd but also shows a department more focused on saving face than on achieving justice or improving educational outcomes.
The department's handling of disciplinary issues has become increasingly erratic and inconsistent, often appearing to be influenced by political agendas. It is perplexing why the department has been slow to respond to many damning cases, particularly those that threaten learner safety, but decided to move with unusual speed and vengeance in this instance.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would ensure that all disciplinary processes are conducted fairly, transparently, and in the best interest of education, rather than resorting to power abuses.
Sergio Isa Dos Santos MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
13 minutes ago
- IOL News
Celebration in Durban: Coedmore Bridge reopens after devastating floods
DA councillor Andre Beetge proudly points to the newly reopened Coedmore Bridge in Yellowwood Park, Durban. The bridge was washed away during the April 2022 floods. Image: Supplied In a moment of triumph for the residents of Yellowwood Park and surrounding areas in Durban, the Coedmore Bridge has officially reopened to motorists more than three years after its devastating destruction during the catastrophic floods of 2022. The completion of this essential infrastructure project, confirmed by DA councillor Andre Beetge, marks a significant step towards restoring connectivity and normalcy for the local community. Beetge, a member of the eThekwini executive committee, was present on Friday to witness the first cars cross the newly constructed bridge, which boasts a price tag of R47 million. 'According to our knowledge, the R47 million bridge is complete and ready for use although clean-up and tidying operations will continue,' he revealed in an interview on Saturday. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The first person to cross the bridge from the Sarnia Road side was DA candidate Norman Gilbert, he said. Beetge recounted the significant disruption and disorder caused by the destruction of the bridge. Coedmore Bridge in Yellowwood Park in Durban was washed away during the April 2022 floods. Image: File picture This bridge was vital as it offered direct routes between Yellowwood Park and Sarnia Road in Seaview, as well as access to Edwin Swales, he said. 'In the absence of the passageway, residents were forced to use Kenyon Howden Road into South Coast Road or other longer and more congested routes. It also detracted from easy access to retail nodes in Montclair and Queensburgh with added travelling time,' said Beetge. Pictures showing what Coedmore Bridge in Yellowwood Pak, Durban looked like before and after the April 2022 floods. Image: File picture Motorists enthusiastically honked their horns as they drove across the newly upgraded bridge, which now features two lanes and pedestrian walkways, a scene captured in a video posted on Beetge's Facebook page. 'Jubilation is an understatement. We have not seen so much joy since the ban of the mask post Covid as people hooted and waved... Joy beamed from their faces and one resident in particular crossed the bridge no less than three times just to make sure he wasn't living in a dream,' he stated. Beetge himself said he is 'absolutely elated' over the completion of this project as it was met with one challenge after another. He noted that geo-technical challenges resulted in unanticipated blasting as well as more flooding, as well as the original contractor incurring financial constraints. 'This caused completion to be delayed from December 2024 to the first car passing on 1 August, after a session in the contract was negotiated,' he said. Former eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda conducted an oversight visit to assess the progress of the reconstruction of Coedmore Bridge in Yellowwood Park, Durban. A sum of R48 million was allocated to the project. Councillor Andre Beetge says the total cost upon completion is R47 million. Image: Supplied Beetge stated that the delays unfortunately led to the councillor becoming a scapegoat, facing victimisation from frustrated residents. 'In the end, it was really worth the wait as the new bridge is a modern double carriageway that should serve the residents for a long time to come,' he said. Last year, eThekwini's former mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, visited the site and announced that the new state-of-the-art 90m-long bridge was being built using cutting-edge integral bridge technology, which is expected to lower maintenance expenses. He said the project also included the construction of a 150m road leading to the bridge, implementation of traffic-calming measures, and installation of improved surface drainage systems.
Eyewitness News
3 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
DA blames Trade & International Relations ministers for unfavourable trade deal with USA
CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) is blaming Trade and International Relations ministers for not securing a more favourable trade deal with the United States. The party said not having a permanent diplomat based in the US has also placed South Africa on the back foot. Although President Cyril Ramaphosa remained optimistic today (Friday) that a more preferential trade deal can still be struck from next Thursday, South African products exported to the US will be charged a 30% tariff. ALSO READ: Govt intervening to cushion blow of harsh US tariffs on local businesses - Ramaphosa The DA's Toby Chance said if it's been possible for neighbouring Botswana to whittle down import tariffs from the originally planned 37% to 15%, Trade Minister Parks Tau and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola should hang their heads in shame. Most other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries will be paying half the 30% tariff to be imposed on South Africa. "This no-deal scenario is due to sheer negligence, failed diplomacy and ineptitude. The South African negotiators missed their first deadline to secure trade terms to the United States. And after missing the deadline, we're forced to ask for an extension." Chance has lambasted tau for not having a contingency plan in place, saying his help desk to assist fearful exporters is laughable. He said a further indictment of Tau's leadership is the vacancies for trade representatives in thirty countries. Chance said the DA will continue to negotiate where it can for favourable trade relations, even if it comes under attack from the African National Congress, which has been insistent on controlling both the trade and international relations portfolios.
Eyewitness News
3 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
ANC: Trump's decisions on reciprocal tariffs expected
JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC) said United States (US) President Donald Trump's decisions on the reciprocal tariffs come as no surprise. On Thursday, Trump announced he was imposing 30% tariffs on South Africa, which will come into effect on 4 August. And while the ANC said it's leaving it to the government to wade through the choppy economic waters, its seecretary general, Fikile Mbalula, said the matter is definitely on the agenda. ALSO READ: DA blames Trade & International Relations ministers for unfavourable trade deal with USA 'We will, among others, discuss the implications of the tariff increase, in terms of the economic trajectory and the path forward, how it impacts our economy, and what the options [are].' Despite concerns from some, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg, Mbalula insists the City of Johannesburg is and will be ready to hold the much-anticipated G20 Summit later in 2025. He has also shared his thoughts on news from the US president that he might not make it to the country to participate in the event himself. 'They've now decided to not send the head of state of America; they decided to send somebody because South Africa will hand over to the United States with regard to the G20, our government must deal with that.'
