KZN DoE clears teachers of religious intolerance allegations

THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education (KZN DoE) has concluded its investigation into allegations of religious intolerance at Drakensberg Secondary School, exonerating both the principal and a teacher.

- MONISHKA GOVENDER

However, the parents are disappointed over the findings, questioning the integrity of the investigation.

In January, allegations surfaced of a Muslim teacher forcing Hindu pupils to remove their red Lakshmi prayer strings at the school.

On February 3, the DoE visited the school and launched an investigation into the allegations of racial intolerance.

According to the DoE’s report into the allegations, which was leaked to the POST, the investigation was finalised on February 24.

But to date the parents of the affected pupils have not had sight of it.

According to the report, the investigation was prompted following reports in the media about the allegations of religious intolerance at the Estcourt school.

“Upon receiving a complaint regarding the cutting/removal of a red string, the principal immediately launched an investigation and all complaining parties, witnesses and alleged offenders were interviewed,” read the report.

The DoE had received four complaints.

“This initial investigation also included a representative from the teacher union of the affected employee, as well as the parents of the pupils and the chairperson of the school governing body (SGB). At this meeting, only two parents attended and the other two had withdrawn their complaints,” the report stated.

It also stated when further allegations arose against the principal, the DoE conducted a preliminary investigation. For the investigation, five pupils - randomly chosen from the 1 100 pupil population — and six teachers were interviewed.

It found that four female teachers and two SGB members were assigned to inspect girls, and two male teachers the boys, as they entered the school.

One was the Muslim teacher who the allegations were levelled against.

The report stated that four of the five pupils said they had either removed their red strings or were asked to remove it because of the teacher.