The school has been without a principal for almost fours years.
In 2010, the Gauteng Department of Education suspended the former principal of the school, Neill Lochenberg, following financial mismanagement allegations.
Lochenberg was later dismissed after he was found guilty on several counts of financial mismanagement.
The delay in appointing a replacement principal has caused the parents’ anger to grow.
During a recent parents meeting held at the school, parents and former members of the Reiger Park Primary School Governing Body (SGB) called on the Gauteng Department of Education to speed up the process of appointing a headmaster.
To temporarily fill the vacant position during the investigation, the department appointed Anil Gowrie as acting principal of the school in 2010.
However, parents still demand a permanent appointment of a new headmaster.
“We need a principal who’s going to improve the poor working culture and climate at the school,” Olivia Mitchell, a parent said.
“The department has left us very vulnerable and very worried about the future of our children.”
Patrice Dilley, who was among the dozens of parents and former members of the SGB at the parents meeting, said a learning and working environment exists that is detrimental to both the learners and staff members.
Petunia Matiwane and Duncan Tjetjana says a Grade 2 class has been without a teacher for a couple of months.
“This is due to lack of leadership,” said Tjetjana.
Curnel Alexander says her biggest concern is that the school’s structure is not being maintained.
“The toilets are not being cleaned, the water pipes are leaking and children have to walk through dirty standing water in the school yar,” added Alexander.
Parents also complained about the insufficient exam material, and revealed that the school is running out of papers. The shortage was also confirmed by one of the educators.
Other complaints include lack of classrooms, high teacher absenteeism and not enough school furniture ever since the former principal was removed from his post.
Apparently, temporal teachers, teacher assistants and the parents also lend their help.
The Advertiser visited the school and discovered that some of the children do not get their mandated services. Dozens of children were found sitting on the floor, in the school corridor with their school bags.
During the meeting, most of the parents expressed their support for the previous principal, Neill Lochenberg. They also hope to have him reinstated.
They argued that Lochenberg was removed from his post for no reason.
He had been lauded by both the parents and former members of the SGB for his achievements at the helm of the school.
The acting principal, Gowrie, says that he is not allowed to comment on this matter.
However, one staffer, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, said many of the school’s problems date back to the tenure of the previous principal.
“While no school leadership is free of some level of dissension, I strongly believe that in the short time Gowrie has been with us, the climate has improved a great deal,” said the employee.
“The school is moving in the right direction and those who criticise Gowrie are those who do not know the truth, and they are not happy with his fair and honest ways of doing things,” explained the employee.
The Gauteng Department of Education have not yet commented at the time of going to print.
