By Thapelo Molefe
Five teachers at Badirile Secondary School in Khutsong are facing disciplinary action for allegedly failing to report for duty, as the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) moves to restore order at the school following reports of violence, gangsterism and serious misconduct.
Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile said on Tuesday he had instructed the department’s labour relations unit to institute disciplinary proceedings against the five educators after concerns about their attendance emerged during a South African Police Service (SAPS)-led school search-and-seizure operation.
Maile alleged the educators were habitual absentees, with some reportedly arriving only to sign the attendance register or reporting for duty under the influence of alcohol.
“We’ve been told about five notorious educators who don’t come to school, who don’t teach, who go to taverns during school hours. Before I leave, I’m getting a report from the school attendance register because I’m immediately instructing our labour relations to charge and act against them,” he said.
He added that other teachers at the school had submitted a petition raising concerns about the conduct of the five educators.
The department has placed Badirile Secondary School under close monitoring as it works with police to address violence, bullying, gangsterism and poor discipline.
Maile described the school as being plagued by serious incidents, including learners allegedly threatening teachers with criminals and illegal miners.
“There are kids here who threaten teachers that they will call zama zamas and criminals to murder the educators. We’ve got kids here who are gangsters,” he said.
According to Maile, a murder occurred at the school earlier this year, while a recent complaint circulated on social media highlighted allegations of bullying.
He also raised concerns about learners who were attending the school premises but not classes, including an 18-year-old Grade 9 learner who, he said, came to school primarily to access meals without participating in lessons.
The school is currently without a principal. Maile said he had instructed the district to appoint an acting principal while the recruitment process for a permanent principal is finalised.
“We want to make sure that in the next coming few weeks, there is order here. Apart from crime and violence, bullying and gangsterism, at the centre is ill-discipline,” he said.
The MEC also directed the district director to meet with educators and the school governing body, while a parents’ meeting will be convened as part of efforts to restore discipline.
The operation at Badirile formed part of a broader SAPS-led School Search and Seizure Operation conducted in Khutsong and Orange Farm.
Maile later joined SAPS, the Gauteng Provincial Traffic Police, Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens, private security and other law enforcement agencies at Thetha Secondary School and Duzenendlela Special School in Orange Farm.
The operations included searches, learner screening and engagements with school management to identify safety concerns.
Maile said weapons were recovered at Badirile Secondary School, while dagga was found at another school. At a separate school, officials identified a learner who allegedly stole door and window handles from the premises to sell them.
He said the findings underscored that challenges in schools reflected wider societal problems.
“Schools are a microcosm of society. They reflect what is happening in society. If we don’t solve societal problems, they will find expression in our schools,” he said.
Maile rejected calls for the reintroduction of corporal punishment as a response to ill-discipline, saying teachers should instead exercise effective classroom management.
“We cannot replace wrong with wrong. Corporal punishment was wrong, it will remain wrong. Corporal punishment is violence,” he said.
The search-and-seizure operations form part of the province’s ongoing school safety interventions following complaints about violence and crime at schools.
Maile said similar operations would be conducted regularly in partnership with SAPS and other law enforcement agencies.
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