‘I’m traumatised’: Principal thrown out of office by angry parents

The Pretoria school principal who was forcefully carried out of her office by parents has said she has been left traumatised by the incident.

Dorothy Mabaso, the headmistress of Laerskool Theresapark, was accused of bullying educators at the institution as well as badly managing its finances. On Thursday, 13 May 2021, outraged teachers decided they had had enough and threw her out of her office.

In video that has since gone viral on social media, the parents can be seen carrying the principal on a chair and taking her outside, where she then loses her balance and falls off.

Theresapark principal meets with MEC Lesufi

On Friday, Mabaso was visited by Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, who has since condemned the incident. In addition to the humiliation she has endured, the Theresapark principal has said she is still dealing with the physical pain, as a result of her fall.

“I still feel pain, traumatised and humiliated. I’m accused and (was) never given a chance to say my side of the story,” she said.

“I’m numb on the left side of the body. This leg is numb and my hand is also numb and I’m seeing a psychiatrist.”

Lesufi later met with Laerskool Theresapark School Governing Body (SGB) members on Friday evening to discuss the issues at hand and hear the grievances, which led to the incident.

“A decision was made that the school must hold a parents meeting to adopt a budget and table audited financial statements. The Department will conduct a forensic investigation into the finances of the school,” the department’s spokesperson Steve Mabona said.

Lesudi has further approved the appointment of an independent law firm to investigate and listen to all complaints of bullying, and conduct of the principal.

“The meeting unanimously condemned the unacceptable behaviour of some parents who acted violently against the principal. The District will negotiate with the principal to remain on an extended leave of absence to recover from the incident”

Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona