A teacher who resigned in a huff from a Curro Academy school in Soweto after being exposed by Sunday World for calling black pupils monkeys, has been employed in a Gauteng government school.
In February we exposed the teacher, Tayabah Jadwat, for using a racially derogatory term, calling three black pupils monkeys during class because they had made noise.
Jadwat was suspended following a Sunday World enquiry.
Jadwat resigned after she was advised, allegedly by the school’s head Johannes Mahlatsi to quit or be fired for the alleged racial slur.
Sunday World has since established that Jadwat is employed at the Lenasia Secondary School, a public school which falls under the Gauteng department of education.
Concerned parents at the school in Lenasia, south of Joburg, have raise the alarm about her employment at the school.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the parents said they were alerted of her employment at the school by some members of the school-governing body (SGB) and pupils.
“We have read about how she left her previous job and it is shocking that she had been employed here at Lenasia Secondary,” said one parent.
“How can such be allowed while we know that she left Curro after displaying her racist tendencies?
“I am an Indian myself, and I despise racism with all my heart. It does not make sense on how she was employed,” said the parent.
Another parent said the SGB and the school’s management need to explain.
“We are not going to let this slide. The SGB and the school need to give us answers regarding her employment. We are not going to have our kids taught by a person who called black learners monkeys. It is complete nonsense.”
A pupil who did not want to be identified said that she read in Sunday World about how Jadwat was suspended at Curro, and that she was surprised that she was given a new opportunity at Lenasia Secondary.
“There is foul play here and I don’t understand how a decision was made that the teacher gets a job here. I told my parents that I and other learners were not happy that the teacher is now employed here. My parents said that they will take the matter up with the school,” said the pupil.
Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said racism was “a serious offence and no school should undermine the seriousness of the crime”.
“Curro is obligated by law to charge and prosecute such a teacher even after resigning because in the absence of a discharge letter the other schools have nothing to rely on when this disgraced teacher approaches them,” Maluleke said.
“The school she is employed at now may have not known about the case and based on this employed her. If there is a dismissal record, no public nor private can employ a racist teacher.”
The National Association of School Governing Bodies chairperson Matakanye Matakanya said no school was allowed to employ a teacher that left another school under a cloud, citing that all schools are regulated by the South African Schools Act and the Constitution.
“It is not the SGB constitution, but the South African Educators Council (SACE) that regulate teachers.”
The Gauteng department of education has distanced itself from Jadwat’s appointment.
“The Gauteng department of education can confirm that the said educator is not permanently employed by the department, but the SGB since 3 April 2024,” said spokesperson Steve Mabona.
SACE spokesperson Risuna Nkuna said: “All teachers are employed by the Department of Basic Education through a recruitment process. SACE does not have the jurisdiction to employ teachers.”
Curro Holdings business executive Fergus Sampson said: “Curro Holdings confirms it concluded a disciplinary hearing into the conduct of the teacher concerned, and [that process] was procedurally sound and fair to all parties…
“Curro will not disclose any further details about the hearing or its outcome.”
This week, the school’s deputy principal who only identified himself as Manga refused to provide contact details of the SGB members and the principal Hawa Munshi.
“The department of education told us not to say anything regarding the matter.
“We cannot also provide you with the contacts of the SGB chairperson or its members, including the contact number of the school’s principal Ms Munchi, as we are not allowed to do so.”
Jadwat did not respond to questions sent to her.
