The School Governing Board (SGB) of Bavumile Primary School in Umlazi in the south of Durban is up in arms against the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education over the appointment of a school principal.

The SGB is challenging the Umlazi district’s decision to appoint Girly Mathebula as the new principal, alleging that she is under qualified.

Mathebula was previously the principal of Cwebezela Primary School, which has since been closed down, rendering her jobless.

This is contained in a letter the SGB wrote to the Umlazi district director identified as Busi Mahlambi.

The SGB says that while it was going through the 57 CVs that were received for the position, it was told to abandon the process as Mathebula had already been appointed to take the reins.

This is contained in a letter the SGB wrote to the Umlazi district director identified as Busi Mahlambi.

It argues that the decision has far reaching consequences, and the other candidates were not given a fair chance to have a shot at the position.

This is contained in a letter the SGB wrote to the Umlazi district director identified as Busi Mahlambi.

The SGB also raised concerns that Mathebula could be unsuitable for the job that has just been handed to her on a platter.

“We have also noted that the now deployed candidate is coming from a lower level school than ours. If this is true, this is a direct contravention of Personnel Administrative Measures (PAM) of moving people horizontal(ly), this now becomes a promotion as oppose(d) to placement.

“We would prefer a candidate that has gone through the selection process and as such, satisfy all the requirements,” reads the letter signed off by Miss TN Magwaza, the chairperson of the SGB.

The spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, Muzi Mahlabi (who is married to District Manager Busi Mahlambi), did not respond despite repeated requests to do so.