A Cape Flats primary school principal has endured sustained harassment from a colleague since 2019.
The educator, who leads Vanguard Primary School in Welcome Estate, has faced threats involving gangsters and traditional medicine, alongside damage to her property and reputation. Despite reporting these incidents through official channels, she describes feeling abandoned by the very system meant to protect her.
The principal, speaking anonymously to avoid further victimisation, detailed a campaign of terror orchestrated by a coworker that began when she first took office.
“In my first year as principal, and because I was a newly appointed principal, I focused a lot on team spirit. I treated everybody as part of a team. No matter what I did, he didn’t want to be part of that team.”
The alleged harassment took multiple forms, including attempts to force parents into signing a removal petition and spreading false claims about drug use and financial theft.
“Harassment included: trying to force parents to sign a petition to get rid of me, posting threatening messages on the staff chat group to me, threatening me that he knows many gangsters and they store their guns at his house, my family was threatened, my wheels were slashed, I was threatened with ‘muti.’”
The accused allegedly wielded connections to criminal elements as leverage, claiming gangsters stored firearms at his residence.
Beyond psychological warfare, the principal reported tangible acts of aggression, including slashed tyres and threats against her relatives. The coworker also allegedly accused her of losing critical documents and stealing school funds, charges she firmly denies.
“He accused me of stealing school money and told people I’m on drugs and I’m not fit to run the school. He’s going to get rid of me.”
The sustained pressure has taken a severe toll on the principal’s wellbeing, resulting in two hospitalisations and ongoing psychiatric care.
“This ongoing harassment put me in hospital twice. I’m seeing a psychiatrist now.”
She maintains that the emotional burden has been compounded by institutional inertia, leaving her to manage both personal trauma and professional responsibilities without adequate support.
The Western Cape Education Department acknowledged awareness of the dispute and confirmed previous intervention attempts.
WCED spokesperson Millicent Merton stated that district officials facilitated a mediation session during 2025 when earlier incidents surfaced, though the principal chose not to escalate the matter at that time.
“Our district office was informed of the latest incident this week, and the matter has been reported to our Directorate: Employee Relations. In 2025, district officials provided support, and a mediation meeting took place when previous incidents were reported. At the time, the principal opted not to pursue the matter further.”
The principal contends that disciplinary measures proved ineffective, noting that a formal warning issued last year expired after six months without lasting resolution.
“The furthest that the WCED district went was when the labour division from the district came to school to speak with him in 2025. He was given a warning. It only lasted six months. When he started harassing them again, they started the progressive discipline process again.”