A former Wynberg Girls’ Junior School teacher is challenging her dismissal, claiming it followed a private conversation that drew the principal’s attention and led to her 13-year-old daughter attempting to take her own life.

Charged with misconduct for breach of confidentiality, the woman is awaiting a date for arbitration for unfair dismissal and an Equality Court inquiry.

The mother, who cannot be identified, was a teacher at the school where her two children were learners. 

The children have since been transferred to another school. 

The mother said their lives were turned upside down in March when her daughter was questioned by school authorities about gossip she shared with a friend about teaching staff.

She said her daughter overheard the conversation between herself and a former colleague and then apparently shared it with a friend via WhatsApp, who then shared it with teaching staff.

The mother told the Cape Argus she was irate that her daughter had been questioned without her knowledge, and she agreed her child should face disciplinary action.

But she could never have prepared herself for what happened next, when her daughter attempted to take her life.

“I sat her down and told her how she had gotten us into this situation and I told her she must go to her room and we will speak after supper,” she said.

“I just heard a gagging sound and when I opened the door, I saw the empty tablet containers.”

The mother then rushed her child to hospital where she received medical attention and psychological support.

She said was disturbed when her daughter’s identity was shared with teaching staff via a letter. 

“Sharing my daughter’s name with staff in a letter, violated my daughter’s dignity and her rights,” she said.

“My daughter was home for two weeks and diagnosed with PTSD and was without access to promised psychological support.”

She said various emails were exchanged between herself and the principal, in which she expressed her dissatisfaction over how the matter was handled.

She said she then received a letter from the principal terminating her employment as a Student Governing Body (SGB) filled post.

According to court papers shared with the Cape Argus, the respondents for the Equality Court matter are the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and the principal, with the inquiry date set down for August 8 at the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court.

The mother also reported the matter to the circuit office and the National Professional Teacher’s Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa).

Naptosa provincial chief executive officer, Riedwaan Ahmed, said arbitration is expected in the matter as the necessary steps for dismissal may not have been followed.

“Our considered view and position is that our member was dismissed without a disciplinary hearing or the opportunity to test the evidence through cross examination of relevant witnesses.”

Millicent Merton, spokesperson for the WCED, said: “The school reported that the SGB took disciplinary action against the parent, who was an SGB employee, for misconduct. The learner was questioned about a transgression that ultimately revealed the parent’s misconduct. In addressing the learner’s transgression, the school took a restorative approach and provided support to the learner through a school counsellor.”

Attempts to obtain comment from the SGB were fruitless as emails cited that the chairperson was currently on leave.

The Cape Argus also awaits feedback from the CCMA. 

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Cape Argus

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