A march organised by the school governing body at Tshivhulana Primary School in Vuwani on Monday drew many people who demanded the removal of the school principal, whom they said his appointment was political.

The governing body also claimed that Mr Adam Ngobeni, the newly appointed principal, "was a player and referee. In the first meeting when we planned for short listing, we indicated to the people that those who are applicants should recuse themselves, but he chose to attend the meeting as a representative of Sadtu, since he is the Vuwani branch chairman. We were surprised when during short listing his name was there," said the chairperson of the governing body, Mr Rudzani Ramuthuba.

Ramuthuba led a march of many people who presented a memorandum to the acting circuit manager, Mr Nditsheni Ramugondo, who promised to send it to the relevant authorities. In the memorandum, the SGB claims that Ngobeni’s appointment was irregular. The memorandum said Ngobeni’s appointment should be nullified with immediate effect and he should be sent to his former position of a teacher when the schools reopen next year.

The memorandum states that Ngobeni’s qualifications are Grade 12 plus a teacher’s diploma. “The other qualifications he has, is being a chairman of a Sadtu branch,” said Ramuthuba.

The post was first advertised in 2009 and members of the SGB complained when they saw Ngobeni’s name among the short listed. “We were surprised when he was recently appointed and we have boycotted him," said Ramuthuba.

It is alleged that since his appointment two months ago, Ngobeni just reports to the circuit office and not at the school.