School principal's dismissal upheld following sexual harassment claims

AN INAPPROPRIATE hug and a request for a "baby kiss" to a volunteer acting as his personal assistant resulted in a Gauteng school principal losing his job.

- ZELDA VENTER [e-mail]

An arbitrator earlier confirmed his dismissal as being fair, but the principal, only identified as B, turned to the Johannesburg Labour Court in a bid to get his job back. According to the testimony, the complainant was accompanied by two colleagues when the applicant (B) approached her and requested assistance with proofreading letters.

After completing the task in the applicant's office, he allegedly asked the complainant for a hug. The complainant obliged, but during the hug, the applicant reportedly squeezed her tightly, to the extent that she could feel his erect body.

He then attempted to kiss her forcefully. When the complainant objected to this, the applicant allegedly responded by saying he could settle for a "baby kiss". The complainant's mother, who worked as a general worker at the school, witnessed the incident through the window of the applicant's office.