Parents, teachers, and community members picketed outside Symphony High School in Belhar, in support of teacher Kelly Manus. Manus, who alleges sexual harassment by a colleague and claims unfair treatment regarding her employment, sparked outrage after her viral TikTok videos. Protesters handed over a memorandum, calling for justice and transparency. Henk Kruger/African News Agency (ANA)
A PORT Alfred High School principal at the centre of sexual harassment allegations is expected to be served with the charges the provincial education department said it was finalising this week.
This development comes as pressure continues to mount on the principal to step down and as calls also grow for Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile David Gade to resign over his alleged inaction.
ActionSA became the latest to weigh in on the matter, accusing the Eastern Cape Department of Education of taking no action following a May 2024 ruling by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA), which found that the principal engaged in conduct that was "unwelcome and of a sexual nature".
The CCMA also declared that "there was sexual harassment" and ordered a full investigation.
“Despite this damning ruling, the Eastern Cape Department of Education has failed to suspend Mr. Adams or initiate any necessary disciplinary measures as ordered by the CCMA. Moreover, with a criminal case now open, the urgency for immediate action has never been more urgent. ActionSA consequently approached the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, on 18 September 2024, requesting her to intervene and direct the Eastern Cape Department of Education to end its ongoing inaction. In what can only be described as an act of defiance, the provincial department disregarded the Minister’s appeals for immediate action. It is clear that, by acting in defiance of the CCMA’s order and the Minister’s directive, the provincial department is protecting a sexual predator and undermining the safety and well-being of both learners and educators.
“ActionSA joins calls for the immediate suspension of the principal, pending a full investigation and for the immediate dismissal of Eastern Cape MEC for Education, Fundile David Gade, whose inaction has perpetuated an environment where sexual misconduct bears no consequences.”
The department, however, maintained it had fully complied with the arbitration order and charges were to be served on the principal in the coming week.
Eastern Cape Education Department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said: “(The teacher) reported the matter to the CCMA. The matter was (heard) and a default arbitration award was issued on 1 Feb 2024 by CCMA instructing the department to suspend the principal and pay compensation of R314983.17 to the applicant. Since the department was not properly informed about the arbitration hearing, the department applied for a rescission of the award. The rescission ruling was issued on 25 March 2024 - a new date was set for a new arbitration hearing. The matter sat and a new arbitration award was issued on 31 May 2024, directing the department to pay (the applicant) R50 000, and this was complied to. The department was also instructed to conduct a full investigation into the conduct of the principal.”
Mtima said they conducted an investigation which was concluded before the end of term 4 last year.
“Currently charges are being drawn up against the principal of Port Alfred High School and will be served before the end of this week. Therefore, the Department of Education has fully complied with the arbitration award issued by the CCMA,” said Mtima.
A petition calling for the principal to be suspended and investigated has gained 1041 signatures.
Gade did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.
Meanwhile community members on Friday came out in their numbers in support of Kelly Manus, a teacher who alleged her job loss was linked to sexual assault allegations against a male colleague at Symphony High School in Belhar.
In a memorandum handed over at the school, the concerned citizens called for sexual harassment training to be conducted at the particular school where the incident occurred.
In a two-part detailed account of her incidents, Manus said she lost her job due to two people and elaborated on the incident involving the male colleague and his wife - a senior official at the school to whom the incident was reported.
WCED’s Bronagh Hammond confirmed they were aware of the sexual harassment allegations against the male colleague and had “cautioned” him.
Hammond further confirmed that Manus’s job loss was not as a result of the unfair discrimination and sexual related allegations.
*Additional reporting by Chevon Booysen.
Cape Times