Gauteng MEC for education Panyaza Lesufi has lashed out at the principal of St John's College over his poor handling of the crisis involving a racist teacher.
An angry Lesufi told St John's College headmaster Paul Edey during an urgent meeting on Friday that the principal was "not fit and proper" to lead the school.
"He apologised ... He also accepted that he did not handle the case appropriately," Lesufi told the Sunday Times.
He met Edey, school council chairman Dr Jon Patriciosand visiting bishop Dr Steve Moreo to express disappointment over the school's decision to retain geography teacher Keith Arlow.
Lesufi said: "I became aware of the incident three weeks ago, when parents wrote to me. I asked for a report ... and was given a substandard one-page report."
Arlow was found guilty for making stereotypical remarks, bringing the school into disrepute and going against the code of conduct of the South African Council for Educators.
Lesufi gave the school an ultimatum to get rid of Arlow by 1pm on Friday, and the teacher quit.
Arlow, who had been at St John's for 10 years, had made derogatory remarks about black, Indian and Greek pupils.
He is said to have told a black pupil on a scholarship who received a good mark: "Well done, you've started thinking like a white boy."
Lesufi has ordered the school to file a complaint about Arlow's conduct with the council for educators. He also wants the report on Arlow's disciplinary hearing to be "completely set aside", to avoid having Arlow argue that he was "constructively pressurised" to resign.
Edey, who has been a principal for 22 years, said: "If I am called to resign, I will have to reflect on the way I handled this. I have a proud track record and believe I still have a good relationship with both boys and staff."
Edey said the school's transformation and diversity committee was re-examining its admissions policy, novels being taught and the symbols used around the school.
Patricios said of the calls for Edey's removal: "We are tied to the Anglican Church and the bishop of Johannesburg is involved in decisions as well."
Meanwhile, the principal who was rejected by parents of Klipspruit West Secondary in Gauteng, because she is black, has told Lesufi that she would not take up her post because she feared for her safety.
