OUSTED East London principal Nokuzola Ndabambi has returned to school after years of fighting with the department of education, but her return comes with restrictions.
Ndabambi can sign the school register every day but is not allowed to venture into a classroom and touch anything.
Ndabambi was principal of Sinempumelelo Primary School in Nompumelelo when she was dismissed in 2012 amid allegations of maladministration and obstructing the elections of new school governing body (SGB) members. She was also accused in 2009 of reprimanding teachers in front of pupils and dividing the staff and the community.
Ndabambi challenged her dismissal and took the matter to the Labour Relations Council for arbitration. On May 6 last year it was ruled that she should return to school.
The department then asked that the matter be taken up on review by the Labour Court which still has to act on this.
Tired of sitting at home, Ndabambi decided to report to the school on Monday, only to be told she was not welcome.
“When I arrived here the majority of the teachers were very happy to see me. However, around midday a man introducing himself as Mr Nkenke, a circuit inspector, said I had no right to be at the school and that I should not touch anything,” she said.
Ndabambi’s solution is to sign the school register every day, and then sit at a desk placed outside a classroom.
She said she has asked ward committee members to sit with her, citing safety concerns. Speaking to the Daily Dispatch outside the classroom on Tuesday, Ndabambi said she was happy to be surrounded by children again.
“Despite all the drama around me I am glad to be back in my environment because children are my life. I love children and seeing them run around the schoolyard is wonderful. The other thing is that some of the children I taught back in the day are now parents and they have been dropping their children off here at school,” she said.
Nompumelelo councillor Makhaya Bopi said they were happy to see Ndabambi back at school.
“The community has no problem with Ms Ndabambi, in fact we are happy to see her back. We welcome her. We do not even know why she is not allowed in the classroom. She was doing a good job in the community, we are pleased to have her back,” Bopi added.
Departmental spokesman Mali Mtima said it was fine that Ndabambi was reporting to school to show that she was not absent without leave. Mtima said the matter was still before the Labour Court. — siyab@dispatch.co.za
Ousted principal forced to sit outside
Ndabambi can sign the school register every day but is not allowed to venture into a classroom and touch anything.
Ndabambi was principal of Sinempumelelo Primary School in Nompumelelo when she was dismissed in 2012 amid allegations of maladministration and obstructing the elections of new school governing body (SGB) members. She was also accused in 2009 of reprimanding teachers in front of pupils and dividing the staff and the community.
Ndabambi challenged her dismissal and took the matter to the Labour Relations Council for arbitration. On May 6 last year it was ruled that she should return to school.
The department then asked that the matter be taken up on review by the Labour Court which still has to act on this.
Tired of sitting at home, Ndabambi decided to report to the school on Monday, only to be told she was not welcome.
“When I arrived here the majority of the teachers were very happy to see me. However, around midday a man introducing himself as Mr Nkenke, a circuit inspector, said I had no right to be at the school and that I should not touch anything,” she said.
Ndabambi’s solution is to sign the school register every day, and then sit at a desk placed outside a classroom.
She said she has asked ward committee members to sit with her, citing safety concerns. Speaking to the Daily Dispatch outside the classroom on Tuesday, Ndabambi said she was happy to be surrounded by children again.
“Despite all the drama around me I am glad to be back in my environment because children are my life. I love children and seeing them run around the schoolyard is wonderful. The other thing is that some of the children I taught back in the day are now parents and they have been dropping their children off here at school,” she said.
Nompumelelo councillor Makhaya Bopi said they were happy to see Ndabambi back at school.
“The community has no problem with Ms Ndabambi, in fact we are happy to see her back. We welcome her. We do not even know why she is not allowed in the classroom. She was doing a good job in the community, we are pleased to have her back,” Bopi added.
Departmental spokesman Mali Mtima said it was fine that Ndabambi was reporting to school to show that she was not absent without leave. Mtima said the matter was still before the Labour Court. — siyab@dispatch.co.za
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