Note to editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Sergio Isa Dos Santos MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the dismissal of the Hoërskool Waterkloof principal following serious allegations of misconduct and sexual harassment that threatened the safety of learners and teachers and caused instability at the school.
However, the delays in concluding this matter raise serious concerns about the Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) ability to act decisively in cases involving the safety of learners and teachers.
Recent responses to questions tabled by the DA in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) reveal that the principal was precautionarily transferred to the District Office on 12 September 2024 and the precautionary measure was lifted in December 2024.
The DA had been calling for decisive action on this matter since May 2025. Yet the principal was only temporarily transferred to another district in June 2025 due to concerns about interference with witnesses. Considering this, it is questionable whether the dismissal of the principal would have happened without our sustained pressure and the courage of those who spoke out.
The GDE’s lack of urgency and consistency despite receiving several complaints of inappropriate conduct is deeply concerning. It stands in stark contrast to the speed and vigour with which the GDE pursued matters at Pretoria High School for Girls (PHSG), pointing to troubling inconsistency, bias, and selective accountability that deserve strong criticism.
Furthermore, this matter highlights the GDE’s failure to vet educators and staff. Currently, at least 12 sexual offenders have been identified as working in schools across Gauteng, while only a fraction of employees have undergone vetting against the National Register for Sex Offenders.
Only the DA can ensure that all learner safety allegations are handled with urgency, fairness, and consistency. We are the only party capable of making comprehensive vetting of school staff a binding legal requirement to protect learners from sexual predators.
Learners in Gauteng deserve a DA-led Gauteng Department of Education that acts without fear or favour when handling cases and works to ensure every parent has the confidence that their children are safe in school environments.