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Parents of learners at Hoërskool Waterkloof in Pretoria East are divided over allegations that led to the temporary relocation of school principal Chris Denysschen (49) to the administrative offices of the Gauteng Department of Education.
This action was taken as a precaution pending an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior and possible mismanagement.
The investigation is expected to be concluded within 90 days.
The school’s governing body informed parents via a letter before the start of the school vacation on September 20 that the principal is currently under investigation and that they will engage with the education department on this matter in late September.
Complaints against Denysschen have already been lodged by parents with the department.
Department spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed on Thursday that the investigation is ongoing but did not confirm whether the governing body has engaged in discussions with the department.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union, represented by spokesperson Paul Sauer, stated that Denysschen is currently not at the administrative offices of the department as he is on medical leave.
More complaints are forthcoming from two groups, according to Steve Hefferman, a lawyer from Centurion assembling and referring the complaints to the education department on behalf of the groups.
Hefferman mentioned that he had discussions in the past week with a group of parents as well as a group of teachers from the school regarding the way forward with their complaints.
“At this stage, it is essential to us that the complaints are taken seriously by the department and that a thorough investigation over the required 90-day period is conducted,” said Hefferman.
The parents’ complaints revolve around alleged inappropriate remarks and comments, particularly with sexual innuendos, purportedly made by Denysschen. From the staff’s side, there are allegations of inappropriate remarks in the staff room as well as in a private capacity towards the staff,” said Hefferman.
One of the major objections raised by many of the parents, according to Hefferman, is an announcement that Denysschen allegedly made for a day where students would come to school in regular clothes.
“In the announcement, he addressed the girls not to wear skirts too short and to cover their shoulders adequately as it might tempt the boys and teachers,” said Hefferman.
“The parents feel the students are minor children with whom such conversations should not occur. They feel he is playing with the children’s minds,” he explained.
He believes that the department should also consider the parents’ objections regarding the potential and alleged mismanagement concerning the construction of the multimillion-rand auditorium.
“Parents are concerned that due to possible misappropriation of school funds for this purpose, they may have to pay more for items such as school trips in the future and that school fees may even be increased. They fear funds will be insufficient for the governing body to no longer subsidize other expenses for parents. The objections thus also affect the parents’ wallets,” he said.
“Some parents fail to see the utility of constructing the new building as the old school hall was sufficient.”
The denomination that previously rented the school hall for services, Every Nation Elarduspark’s leader, gospel singer Retief Burger, distanced the church in a media statement from the controversies surrounding the construction of the auditorium.
Burger stated that the school has not rented the school hall for services since November 2023 and only discussed the possibility of renting the new auditorium for services in the future. Denysschen is not a member of that congregation.
Hefferman’s office does not expect the matter to go to court as his instructions entail presenting the complaints directly to the department.
He suspects that parents advocating for Denysschen may “possibly not be so informed about the day-to-day operations of the school and about exactly what is happening in the corridors.”
Recently, a group of concerned parents did express their loyalty on social media towards the school principal, and a statement was shared by numerous parents, stating:
“We, the parents of Hoërskool Waterkloof, hereby affirm our support for the school and the school principal, Mr. Chris Denysschen, amid the recent allegations in the media. We believe that Mr. Denysschen has managed the school with integrity, moral values, and a Christian leadership style. While we believe any investigation should proceed properly, we as parents will still stand around Hoërskool Waterkloof like a wall to protect our children, the school, and its staff against any external attacks. Our trust in the school’s management remains unscathed, and we are committed to maintaining the school’s good name and continued excellence. We firmly believe that the truth will ultimately prevail and that Hoërskool Waterkloof will continue to be a light in our community.”
A social media page with more than 1,500 members was also established by parents in support of Denyscchen’s return as the school principal on Facebook under the name Trotskloof.
One of the participants in this page, Joran Fourie, sent an open letter from concerned parents to Rekord in which he writes that recent events have destroyed reputations and harmed the students of the school. He expresses on behalf of the parents their dissatisfaction with the one-sided reporting that has spread in the media recently and the harm it has caused.
The group feels it is their duty to respond to the inaccurate and incomplete reporting that not only tarnished the school’s reputation but also negatively affected the well-being of children.
“While a small group of aggrieved parents addressed their complaints to the media, these complaints, not placed in a broader context, created a misimpression about the management and culture of the school. As a result, a school that has been a beacon of excellence for decades is now confronted with criticism not based on reality,” the open letter reads.
The letter points out that since reports about this in the media appeared, students have become uncertain and fearful.
“They move through the school corridors feeling they are under a microscope. We often hear of children who are afraid to be seen in their school uniforms in public, or who even feel unsure about their identity as proud Klofies. This uncertainty has caused a lot of emotional tension among the children, especially with the end of the school year, which should normally be a time of celebration of achievements and camaraderie. Moreover, thousands of students must prepare for very important exams where Waterkloof has always delivered top results,” a paragraph from the letter reads.
Fourie and the parents believe it is their responsibility to ensure that students can thrive in a safe, supportive, and positive environment.
“We must also emphasize that Mr. Denysschen, the school principal, has played an exceptional role over the years in maintaining Hoërskool Waterkloof’s legacy of excellence. He is a leader who, through his integrity, Christian values, and unwavering dedication to the development of our children, has managed a school that fills us all with pride. We will not allow a small group of aggrieved individuals to destroy our school’s good name or to make our children live in fear. We believe that together we are stronger, and that this difficult time is just a temporary obstacle in the larger picture of what our school can and will achieve. Our confidence in our children, our school, and the teachers is unwavering, and we will continue to offer our support during this time,” reads the open letter, signed by “The parents of Hoërskool Waterkloof.”
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