teacher Fred Norman Secondary

The grandparent who had a verbal altercation with a teacher at Fred Norman Secondary School. Image: Screenshot from @Jenny_Oliphant1.

‘Racist’ Fred Norman Secondary teacher in hot water – Here’s why

The Fred Norman Secondary teacher who repeatedly sworn at a learner’s grandparent is in hot water. Here’s the latest on the matter.

teacher Fred Norman Secondary

The grandparent who had a verbal altercation with a teacher at Fred Norman Secondary School. Image: Screenshot from @Jenny_Oliphant1.

The parent of the child whose grandmother was repeatedly sworn at by a teacher at Fred Norman Secondary School in Ennerdale, Grasmere in Gauteng has written to the South African Council of Educators, the Public Protector and the South African Human Rights Commission seeking justice. 

In a video that went viral online, the teacher and the grandparent had a verbal altercation and it is not clear how it ensued, however, the teacher can be heard calling the elderly woman trash, swearing at her and going as far as saying she hates Coloureds, despite Ennerdale being dominated by Coloureds. 

FRED NORMAN SECONDARY TEACHER IN HOT WATER

In letters that The South African has seen, the father alleges that the day before the incident, the teacher verbally abused her daughter (whose name we will not disclose) even after various learners asked the teacher to be lenient towards her daughter as she was mourning the loss of her sibling who died in a car accident. 

On Friday, 12 August the grandparent then went to Fred Norman Secondary to try and resolve the issue amicably, according to the father. 

“However, because the principal was busy and could not see her, she (the grandparent) went to the teacher’s classroom,” the father said. 

Furthermore, the father said the hurtful and unwarranted repeated reference to both the daughter and grandparent as trash is gross defamation of character and they are planning to pursue legal action in order to attain justice.

GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WEIGHS IN 

The Gauteng Department of Education has launched an investigation into circumstances surrounding this incident and said the outcome will be communicated in due course. 

Spokesperson, Steve Mabona confirmed that  the affected educator has been precautionarily removed from the school until further notice. 

Mabona said educators must always be exemplary figures in schools by maintaining a high command of good conduct and teaching learners with dignity. 

“We also implore parents to use appropriate channels to address their grievances rather than resorting to other platforms. Furthermore, schools are institutions of learning and they should be treated as such.”

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