Principal suspended after sexting claims
The entry 'sexting', is an addition in the 11th edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. The entry 'sexting', is an addition in the 11th edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.
Durban - A high school principal was removed on Monday by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education after allegations of sexual misconduct with a pupil.
“We can confirm the principal was given a pre-suspension while we deal with the matter, department spokesman, Muzi Mahlambi, told the Daily News on Monday night.
The department would only reveal that the matter involved “allegations of improper SMSes with a pupil”. It confirmed the principal had to be removed after “anarchy” at the KwaMashu high school last week.
“He got the letter of suspension today (Monday) but a decision to suspend him was taken on Friday.”
However, Isolezwe, the Daily News’s sister paper, reported on Saturday that the principal, who had allegedly had relationships with more than one pupil, was caught having sex with one on Wednesday during a late night study session.
Isolezwe said this was revealed after the principal allegedly suspended some pupils for “misbehaving” during the study session. This led to chaos at the school the following day and a delay in the writing of the matric English paper two exam.
“We can confirm there was a 15 minute (delay) in the start of the exam paper,” Mahlambi said.
The matric pupil at the centre of the storm has since disappeared and has not written her exams since Thursday, Isolezwe reported.
Mahlambi said the matter was already under investigation and the principal would be brought before a disciplinary tribunal.
He said the late night studies during exams would not be suspended. “We must separate the issues where studies are a good thing. But if someone is dirty, they are dirty. We can’t make learners suffer. We need studies without people making improper SMSes to their pupils,” Mahlambi said.
“We are very much disappointed as the province just hosted a youth event at the school. The principal spoke very well on that day but this is a shame,” he said. “We organised private sector (assistance) for the renovations at the school and we get a leader like that?”
Mahlambi said the deputy principal at the school had been appointed to act as principal during the investigation and exams.