The Table View High School substitute teacher who was at the centre of a racism storm has been found not guilty.

Irate parents spoke out about the incident in July where the white substitute history teacher allegedly used the K-word as part of a Grade 12 history lesson on black consciousness.

They accused the school and Western Cape Education Department (WCED) of protecting her over their children’s well-being, questioning why other learners and teachers were suspended pending investigations, but the same action was not taken in this case.

In defence over the teacher’s continued presence at school in light of the serious allegations against her, the department reasoned that the school had been monitoring her classroom practice with another teacher present.

Eventually the educator was suspended after an investigative report had been finalised with recommendations but this was not made public.

A disciplinary hearing process against the teacher commenced in September.

The department’s spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said on Monday that taking the evidence presented by both parties, the matter was concluded and the presiding officer found the teacher not guilty last month.

“The teacher, however, is no longer in the employ of the WCED and is now retired. The matter is now concluded,” said Hammond.

Parent Loyiso Mfubesi said there has been “zero communication with us who have children who were affected”.

“We have never received any formal communication. Maybe it’s because the complainants are Black parents. All we knew was that the teacher was eventually suspended, but also it’s our children who came back from school and informed us.

Fortunately or unfortunately my child will be out of that school next year as she is doing Grade 12 now.

“Officials are not looking at what are the root causes (of racism) and how to prevent such cases in learning environments. We would like the findings or report to be shared so that we know what led to the decision of not guilty,” said Mfubesi.

ANC MPL Khalid Sayed said they also would like to know the reasons for the not guilty finding.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has previously stated that it was awaiting for a status report from the department.

“Then we will engage and see how the commission will intervene to ensure this does not happen again.”

Cape Times