Parktown Boys’ High School grade 8 pupil Enoch Mpianzi drowned on Wednesday 15 January in the Crocodile River, Brits, while attending an orientation camp. Image via Twitter at @CuedaBeat_bhr
Parktown Boys’ High School grade 8 pupil Enoch Mpianzi drowned on Wednesday 15 January in the Crocodile River, Brits, while attending an orientation camp. Image via Twitter at @CuedaBeat_bhr
Following the death of one of its pupils, Enoch Mpianzi in January, the headmaster of Parktown Boys’ High has returned to work ready for the school year to resume on Monday 1 June.
He was suspended in March after the grade 8 pupil drowned on a school orientation camp and the search for him only got underway 17 hours later, and has been back at his desk since Monday 25 Ma.
The announcement was made on Friday 29 May by gauteng Education MEC Payaza Lesufi.
Investigation concluded
The Gauteng Department of Education said in a statement that the hearing to determine the headmaster’s fate had been postponed due to the nationwide lockdown, but because the investigation into his conduct during the tragic ordeal has been completed, it was deemed that he could not interfere with the process.
“It is common course that the said Principal was suspended in January 2020 after the tragic drowning of Enock Mpianzi, accordingly an independent enquiry recommended that chargers be levelled against the Principal and as such same has been done,” the Gauteng Education department said in a statement.
“The Principal was served with the charges but the hearing had to be postponed due to lockdown.”
“Our investigation into the matter is complete and as such it was decided that, he should be back at work as there is no possibility that he may interfere with the process.”
They added that the parents’ association at the school had given him the green light to return to work.
“It must be noted that parents through the SGB also supported his return to the school.”
Criminal case and final report still outstanding
Lesufi said that it was regrettable that the process had been delayed due to the lockdown, but insisted that the matter would be properly concluded as soon as reasonably possible so as to provide a sense of closure to Mpianzi’s devastated family.
“We will await the final report of the disciplinary hearing as well as the criminal case outcome before we can act further on this matter,” said Lesufi
“Unfortunately the lockdown delayed matters and the department is compelled to respect the rights of the principal,” he said.
