The principal of uMkhumbane Secondary, in Mayville, Durban, Ntokozo Ngobese, who is serving a three-month suspension, celebrating outside the Pitermaritzburg High School earlier this week. The High Court ruled that the cameras at the school, which sparked a teacher boycott by members of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) should not be removed in the classroom.
Image: STHEMBISO MNGOMA
As schools reopen on Wednesday after the Easter break, parents of learners at uMkhumbane Secondary School in Mayville, Durban, say they do not want teachers who participated in a prolonged boycott to return to the classroom.
Nearly 20 teachers who are members of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) withdrew from teaching duties at the school in protest against the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in classrooms from February 16.
Earlier this week, the Pietermaritzburg High Court dealt a blow to the boycotting teachers, ruling that the CCTV cameras should remain in place.
The conflict over the cameras began at the end of January and escalated into a boycott in February. Teachers continued reporting for duty but refused to teach, citing concerns that the cameras had been installed without proper consultation or their approval.
However, the school governing body (SGB) maintained that teacher representatives were present during the meeting where the decision to install the cameras was taken. The move followed repeated incidents of theft and bullying within classrooms, which the SGB said necessitated stronger security measures.
According to SGB member Babalo Majola, the National Teacher Union (Natu) stepped in and assisted in referring the matter to court. The boycott significantly disrupted academic activities, particularly affecting Grade 12 learners, on their first-quarter continuous assessments.
“With Natu’s assistance, we approached the court after the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education instructed us to remove the cameras without delay. We secured a court date soon after filing for an urgent hearing,” said Majola.
He welcomed the outcome, noting that the judge had been sharply critical of the department’s stance and ruled that the cameras should remain in place.
“This ruling makes us very happy as parents because we have always believed the cameras should stay. They are beneficial to both learners and teachers, especially at a school that has been plagued by break-ins,” Majola said.
Despite the ruling, uncertainty remains over the next steps by Sadtu-aligned teachers, who had previously vowed not to resume teaching if the cameras were not removed. Majola argued that teachers should have allowed their union to address the dispute instead of abandoning classrooms and learners.
He added that many parents remain angry about the boycott and would prefer that the striking teachers not return, even if they reverse their stance. In response to the disruption, parents hired and paid temporary teachers to ensure learning continued.
“We would like the department to consider appointing these temporary teachers on a permanent basis,” Majola said.
The situation was further complicated during the third week of the boycott when principal Ntokozo Ngobese was issued a three-month suspension letter.
At the time, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education denied any link between Ngobese’s suspension and the CCTV dispute. In a statement issued in early March, the department said the suspension followed multiple instances of alleged insubordination, including claims that the principal refused to allow a teacher to resume duties after being reinstated.
“The Department of Education notes with concern reports suggesting that the suspension of the principal was linked to the installation of cameras. These claims are incorrect and misleading,” the statement read.
Under Ngobese’s leadership, the school has achieved a 100% Grade 12 pass rate for four consecutive years, a record that parents say highlights the importance of stability and strong leadership at the school.The Department of Education has not responded to the ruling.