“Garden Duty or Witch Hunt?”: Pretoria Girls High Principal Suspended in Controversial Decision

DA and teachers’ union slam suspension of Pretoria Girls High principal Philippa Erasmus

What started as a husband lending a hand in the school gardens has now bloomed into one of Gauteng’s most controversial disciplinary dramas in public education.

Philippa Erasmus, principal of Pretoria High School for Girls, has been suspended without pay for three months — not for corruption, negligence, or racism, but because her husband volunteered to help with gardening and vehicle management at the school.

This bizarre punishment has sparked outrage from both the Democratic Alliance and the SA Teachers’ Union (SAOU), with calls for her immediate reinstatement and claims that she’s the target of a political vendetta.

From volunteer gardener to disciplinary hearing

At the centre of this storm is Mike Erasmus the principal’s husband, who, according to union officials, simply helped with landscaping duties on school property. His assistance came without pay or formal employment, yet this act of goodwill ended up as a formal charge against the principal herself.

And that’s not all. Philippa Erasmus was also found guilty of a separate charge regarding the appointment of the school’s financial manager. But it’s her husband’s involvement that has attracted the most public backlash.

‘Absurd, unfair, and politically driven’ DA reacts

Sergio Isa Dos Santos, DA Gauteng’s shadow MEC for education, didn’t mince words. He called the department’s actions “absurd” and accused Education MEC Matome Chiloane of targeting Erasmus for political reasons.

“We call on MEC Chiloane to reverse this decision and put an end to the ongoing harassment and humiliation of this dedicated principal,” said Dos Santos.

He also noted that the original probe focused on racism allegations, for which Erasmus was never charged, let alone found guilty. When those claims didn’t stick, the department allegedly broadened the investigation, seemingly determined to find something to punish her for.

Union raises red flags over fairness

The SAOU, which represented Erasmus during her disciplinary hearing, also blasted the department’s handling of the matter. According to spokesperson Dems Nel, the principal was wrongfully painted as a racist and dragged through a deeply flawed process.

“Despite the allegations of racism, Erasmus was never charged with that,” said Nel. “She was found not guilty of the misconduct tied to the code of conduct. Instead, she’s being punished for allowing her husband to help in the garden, unpaid.”

The SAOU was forced to escalate the matter to the Education Labour Relations Council to ensure Erasmus could return to her post. Even then, the department allegedly failed to file opposing documents in court when challenged.

Where’s the report? Public kept in the dark

Adding to the concern is a complete lack of transparency. The law firm hired to investigate the school’s racial climate submitted a report, but its contents have never been made public. Not even those charged, including Erasmus, have been allowed to see the evidence against them.

Nel confirmed that the union has since taken the matter to the Information Regulator in hopes of getting the report released. Until then, they say, the case remains mired in secrecy and procedural injustice.

South Africans speak out

Social media has lit up with disbelief. “So now helping your wife with gardening gets you suspended? We’re through the looking glass,” one user posted on X. Another called the ruling a “desperate witch hunt,” questioning the priorities of Gauteng’s education leadership.

Alumni and parents from Pretoria Girls High have also voiced support for Erasmus, many describing her as a respected figure who championed discipline and dignity at the school.

A pattern of poor governance?

For critics, the Erasmus saga is symptomatic of deeper issues within the Gauteng Department of Education. Between ignored grievances, opaque investigations, and politically charged decisions, this case is less about a garden and more about governance gone wrong.

As the SAOU and Erasmus consider their next legal steps, one thing is certain: the seeds of discontent have been sown and the department may have to reap the consequences.

{Source: The Citizen}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com