A FIGHT between community members and a principal has affected learners from the Tembaletu Special School in Gugulethu, Cape Town.
A parent told Daily Sun that of the 220 learners, less than 100 are not attending school as parents are keeping them home for their safety.
Two weeks ago, community members protested outside the school for days, demanding the principal to leave, accusing him of employing people from outside the area.
Since then, the principal has not reported for duty as he fears for his life after angry residents allegedly threatened him.
A community member claimed that the principal employs people from areas such as Khayelitsha, and most of the school governing body (SGB) members are allegedly from outside Gugulethu.
While a parent said her child is not attending school because protesters attacked the bus she travels to school with.
"Since the incident, she has been traumatised. When I told her to go to school, she reminded me about the protest. It is hard for us as parents because these kids must be at school. They don't only study at school. For example, my daughter struggles to walk and does her physiotherapy at school. Now, she is missing all that. This matter needs to be fixed," she said.
An SGB member said two fired drivers from the area are behind the protests. She said they were fired after they failed to turn up for work and later brought sicknotes, which were found to be fake. They were then fired, and a week later, a protest started.
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"They are holding our children as ransom for the jobs they lost. They think the principal had them fired, but it was clear they had forged sick notes," she said.
Western Cape Department of Education spokeswoman Bronagh Hammond confirmed the challenges at the school.
"The WCED is aware of the disruption that has been caused to teaching and learning at the school. Thankfully, teaching and learning is continuing, but there are still fears from parents that there could be further disruption," she said.
Hammond said they are still investigating, but their previous investigations showed that allegations against the principal were false.
"Previous allegations raised have been found to be inaccurate or false. The principal has also not been found guilty of any previous allegations," she said.
Hammond further said the claim that the SGB is not duly elected was also false. The department said the drivers who were dismissed after they went through disciplinary hearings and the processes were followed.
"The two drivers were dismissed following a disciplinary hearing after previous warnings. The drivers, in this last transgression, produced false medical certificates following days of being absent from work, leaving learners stranded. They cannot be reappointed," said Hammond.
