Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
11 September 2024 | 15:00 CAT
2 min read

The KZN Parents Association has voiced concerns over the handling of sexual misconduct allegations in schools after the suspension of Merchiston Prep headmaster Llewellyn Bragin. The Pietermaritzburg High Court has issued an interdict preventing Bragin from entering the school.

Bragin, suspended in September 2023, faces accusations from staff and parents, including inappropriate behaviour towards female staff members. Despite being cleared of most charges by the Department of Education, the school’s governing body argued Bragin is a “menace” and his return would harm the school community.

Speaking to Radio Islam, Vee Gani, Chairperson of the KZN Parents Association, highlighted the implications for parents, teachers, and students and how schools should manage such cases to ensure the protection of all parties involved.

“It is a cause for concern to the parent out there: you send your child to school, to the educator out there, you send your wife to school, and you expect them to be safe, it is a learning institution, but if there are going to be issues of this nature we have to remove all predators from our school irrespective,” he said.

Gani highlights that the department is not treating this with the “respect or urgency that it deserves”.

He noted that it seems like the court must have found some merit in the parents’ concerns to issue a ruling that aligned with their wishes. If there had been no basis for the claims, the situation would have likely resumed as normal.

Gani emphasised his preference for an independent body to conduct the investigation, stating, “You can’t be investigating one of your own people.” He expressed concerns that those within the department might be biased or prejudiced, highlighting the need for an impartial process.

The interdict will remain in place until a review application is heard, which is expected to take six months.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Vee Ganie, Chairperson of the Parents Association of KwaZulu-Natal, here.