The community is accusing the Gauteng Department of Education of dictating to them and forcing them to welcome the teachers back.

In 2017 the teachers stopped going to work, accusing the principal of financial mismanagement and racism. Among their grievances was that the principal threatened them with a knife and that members of the school governing board (SGB) threatened and intimidated them. 

A law firm, appointed by the education department, found many of the claims to be unfounded. 

While it said there was evidence that the principal threatened the teachers with a knife and that the teachers had been intimidated and traumatised, there was no evidence of racism or financial mismanagement. 

Member of the governing body, Victor Molahloe, says their school is not a racist institution. 

Gauteng Education Spokesperson, Steve Mabona, insists they have met with the community. 

The Gauteng Shutdown Co-ordinating Committee's Keith Duarte denies that the parents don't want the teachers back because of their race. 

"Keep the contracted teachers who help our children achieve an 86.94% matric pass rate and let those seven teachers who left our children for 12 months stay where they are or be placed elsewhere".

eNCA