Shukumani Primary School’s principal is blocked by protesting parents

By Staff Writer

In Caleni Section Thembisa, frustrated parents protested outside Shukumani Primary School.

There are claims made by parents that there was favoritism when it came to employment. The principal allegedly hired workers from Daveyton, leaving locals unemployed.

“There is a problem in that the principal does not want to hire the community of Thembisa. Classes need to be built, he only wants people from Daveyton,” one of the parents explained.

“The principal of this school threw away the remaining food after giving free food to the students from this school. This is wrong. That principal of the school doesn’t respect us,” she said.

Shukamani has one of the highest failure rates in the province. According to parents, most learners fail isiZulu and English. There is no clear reason why most learners fail those two subjects.

“I don’t understand how a child could fail a native tongue,” she said. Another parent, William Mhlambi, said some parents used to sell food and snacks at the school gate, but now they cannot as the principal doesn’t allow them to sell at Shukumani.

“They are not wanted here by the principal. They sell to support their children, and this worries me,” he said.

When parents asked if they had tried to speak with the principal of the school, one of the parents said they had tried to engage the principal numerous times, but he had refused to talk to them. Attempts to reach the principal were unsuccessful.

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