The executive head of Curro Academy in Protea Glen, Soweto has been axed from her cushy job after she called a black teacher a monkey.
This after Sunday World broke the story and backed it up with a trail of evidence showing Shanettte Tiquin’s tendencies over a week ago.
Tiquin, who is in her 50s, found herself in trouble after she called Nonkululeko Gwatyu, a black English teacher, a monkey in the school premises in June.
On Friday last week, Curro subjected Tiquin to a disciplinary hearing.
The racist Curro boss tried to lobby support from colleagues before the hearing was held, where her associates approached teachers to write testimonies that she is not racist.
However, all those desperate measures bit the dust.
In a letter to the parents and guardians, Curro Holdings’ head of operations Fergus Sampson outlined the purpose of the disciplinary hearing, stating that the school is in no way condoning racism.
He wrote that management will do everything to make sure that racism does not thrive in its schools.
Sampson said a disciplinary hearing was held against Tiquin after she used derogatory language against Gwatyu, and that a mediation process was also conducted, which did not yield positive results for the Tiquin.
“A scheduled mediation chaired by an independent mediator was held at the request of the complainant in her formal grievance. The mediation was unsuccessful,” reads the letter.
“Following the failed mediation, Curro issued a charge sheet and notified the senior staff member accused of making derogatory and discriminatory statement of a disciplinary hearing held on Friday, August 11.
“The senior staff member was charged with gross misconduct in terms of the Curro anti-discriminatory policy, which reiterates that Curro rejects all forms of discrimination.
“It states that any person found guilty of racial harassment or discrimination may be dismissed.”
A hearing chaired by advocate Mandla Mkhatshwa of the Johannesburg Bar was completed on Monday.
Sampson said: “After considering all evidence and arguments, the chairperson found the senior staff member guilty of gross misconduct for violating Curro’s anti-discriminatory policy and recommended that she be dismissed.
“The chairperson found her guilty of directing a racially offensive term at a teacher.
“He rejected the staff member’s argument that she used the term ‘monkey’ to refer to herself, and found the complaint’s evidence more credible.”
Curro Holdings spokesperson Nadia Rossouw said: “The senior staff member transgressed the Curro anti-discrimination policy.
“The transgression constituted serious misconduct, and [it was] recommended that the senior staff member be summarily dismissed.
“Curro Holdings accepts the findings of the disciplinary hearing and is implementing the recommendations forthwith.”
On Monday, Sunday World noticed placards hanging from a school fence and sympathizing with Tiquin. Some of the placards read: “Our kids love Tiquin”, “Let Tiquin speak”, and “We want to know the truth”.
After realising that she had been dismissed, Tiquin wrote an e-mail to her colleagues: “The time has come for us to part company.”
Asked how she feels about the verdict, Tiquin refused to comment. Gwatyu referred all questions to the school.
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