THE KwaZulu-Natal Division of Training (KZN DoE) has concluded its investigation into allegations of non secular intolerance at Drakensberg Secondary College, exonerating each the principal and a instructor.
Nevertheless, the mother and father are upset over the findings, questioning the integrity of the investigation.
In January, allegations surfaced of a Muslim instructor forcing Hindu pupils to take away their pink Lakshmi prayer strings on the faculty.
On February 3, the DoE visited the college and launched an investigation into the allegations of racial intolerance. In response to the DoE’s report into the allegations, which was leaked to the POST, the investigation was finalised on February 24. However so far the mother and father of the affected pupils haven’t had sight of it.
In response to the report, the investigation was prompted following experiences within the media concerning the allegations of non secular intolerance on the Estcourt faculty.
“Upon receiving a criticism concerning the slicing/removing of a pink string, the principal instantly launched an investigation and all complaining events, witnesses and alleged offenders have been interviewed,” learn the report.
The DoE had obtained 4 complaints.
“This preliminary investigation additionally included a consultant from the instructor union of the affected worker, in addition to the mother and father of the pupils and the chairperson of the college governing physique (SGB). At this assembly, solely two mother and father attended and the opposite two had withdrawn their complaints,” the report said.
It additionally said when additional allegations arose towards the principal, the DoE performed a preliminary investigation. For the investigation, 5 pupils – randomly chosen from the 1 100 pupil inhabitants – and 6 lecturers have been interviewed. It discovered that 4 feminine lecturers and two SGB members have been assigned to examine women, and two male lecturers the boys, as they entered the college.
One was the Muslim instructor who the allegations have been levelled towards. The report said that 4 of the 5 pupils stated that they had both eliminated their pink strings or have been requested to take away it due to the instructor.
One of many pupils alleged that on January 15, on the faculty entrance, the instructor advised her to take away a pink string, the report learn.
“She didn’t report the matter on the day as a result of she was fearful that her father could be upset. On the time of the incident, she alleged there was nobody shut by who witnessed what had occurred.”
In response to the report, the pupil alleged that the instructor instructed her to take away her nostril ring and pink string.
“She advised the instructor that each the ring and the pink string have been cultural issues, so she can’t take them off. The lady additional claimed that on January 22, throughout the meeting, the principal introduced that pupils have been allowed to put on pink strings on the ankle, and when worn on the wrist it should be lined,” the report learn.
The second pupil stated she was additionally stopped by the instructor and was questioned about her earring.
“The instructor advised her to take away her pink string. There was no particular person shut by who witnessed the incident. She didn’t report back to the mother and father till this got here out within the media,” the report said.
It additional said that the identical pupil alleged she was conscious that the instructor had minimize off the pink string of 1 baby final 12 months. The pupil claimed the instructor didn’t reprimand Muslim pupils.
“She alleged that on the day of the meeting, the principal requested them to acquire a letter from their priest to confirm that the string was prayed for,” stated the report.
It said a 3rd pupil stated she had eliminated her pink string as a result of her good friend advised her about their incident, and never as a result of she was advised to take action by the instructor.
The fourth pupil stated the instructor noticed her pink string throughout the inspection and instructed her to chop it off.
“When it was her flip, a male instructor commented on her nostril stud, and he or she advised him that it’s cultural. It was alleged that the instructor then noticed her pink string and instructed her to chop it off.
“She then advised the instructor that she couldn’t take it off as a result of it was a spiritual factor. The instructor allegedly threatened her that if she doesn’t take it out, she is going to put her on SA SAMS. Afraid that if placed on SA SAMS her grade share could be affected, she then eliminated it,” the report learn.
Through the investigation, the Muslim instructor stated she was on the faculty entrance inspecting uniforms with three different lecturers. She stated she was tolerant of all religions and would by no means ask Hindu pupils to take away their strings. She stated she had points with uniform transgressions with two of the pupils who had complained about her, the report learn.
The report discovered that 4 lecturers stated they didn’t hear her inform the pupils to take away their pink strings nor did the principal inform pupils to cover their pink strings. The investigation discovered that oldsters and pupils didn’t come ahead for the worry of victimisation. In addition they claimed the principal was overlaying up for the instructor, the report discovered.
“It needed to be famous that the pupils remained constructive that they have been alone when the instructor requested them to take away their pink strings on the entrance of the college whereas the lecturers begged to vary. It’s due to this fact concluded that the story created by the three pupils who accused the instructor of asking them to take away pink strings didn’t have substantive proof,” the report said.
“Following a cautious examination of all related proof, witness statements and personnel, in addition to a random pattern of pupils from throughout the faculty, it’s decided that the instructor is wholly harmless of those allegations, and there aren’t any grounds to help any of the alleged allegations,” learn the report.
The principal was additionally discovered harmless of the allegations.
“This matter has affected the lecturers so badly that they want skilled assist. These two lecturers who’ve loved constructive standing and held in excessive regard within the career, have been slated within the media by keyboard warriors, fraudulent social media account holders and irresponsible journalists. They’re inside their rights to hunt counsel for the acts of great defamation towards their characters,” stated the report.
A guardian advised the POST they have been in disbelief on the report, which principally referred to as their youngsters liars.
“How is she not responsible? How is it doable? Are they saying our youngsters are mendacity?”
One other guardian stated she didn’t decline to attend the assembly.
“I’m upset at this end result. I used to be not even advised concerning the assembly. The SGB stated that they had posted it on the mother and father’ group, however nothing was there. So how did they count on us to attend?”
The mother and father stated they have been upset with the findings.
Reverend Ethan Ramkuar, director of Survival Centre NPO, took up the matter with the Human Rights Fee (HRC).
“The HRC shared the non-public and confidential doc from the DoE, which I discover conflicting with the views and statements from the mother and father,” stated Ramkuar.
“I fashioned a bunch the place I’m presently speaking with the mother and father. I additionally went to Estcourt to interact with the group. We imagine that justice will likely be served. We’re presently in talks with the HRC, awaiting its findings,” stated Ramkuar.
Professor Brij Maharaj, deputy president of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha, stated the DoE had not consulted with them throughout the investigation, they usually had not had sight of their report. Nevertheless, the Sabha had escalated the matter to the Cultural, Spiritual and Linguistic (CRL) Rights Fee in January 2025, and awaited the end result of their investigation.
Mpiyakhe Mkholo, the senior communication supervisor on the CRL Rights Fee, stated they obtained the criticism from the SAHMS.
“We’re arranging a gathering with the Division of Fundamental Training (DBE) concerning these complaints. The mediation course of will start as soon as the engagement with DBE is completed,” Pavershree Padayachee, the KZN provincial supervisor of the SA Human Rights Fee, stated that they had obtained the report from the DoE.
“The fee’s KZN workplace wrote to the HOD: Division of Training (DoE) concerning the allegations. The DoE performed an investigation into the identical they usually have shared a replica of their investigative report with the fee which we’re presently within the means of assessing,” stated Padayachee.
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