The Department of Education in Limpopo says the principal of Vhafamadi Secondary School of Mashau Village had failed to abide by, the school’s management rules, by engaging his lawyer on a workplace issue that needed the department’s intervention.

This comes after Mr Mashau Thenga, the principal of Vhafamadi Secondary School is suing 12 teachers at the school for a combined R600 000 for defamation. It is alleged that Thenga is accusing the teachers of defaming his character by reporting his alleged misconduct to the provincial education department.

The department is now warning him to think again or face disciplinary action.

This comes after teachers at the school lodged their grievances with the department that they were not satisfied with the manner in which Thenga was managing the school.

However, Vhafamadi Secondary produced a 97% pass rate during last year´s matric results and the management of the school was satisfied with the standard of education.

Seeing that the matter had gone a long way, teachers decided to write a letter to the department with a view to make the principal withdraw the lawsuit.

Teachers who spoke to Mirror anonymously said that it was now difficult for them to concentrate at school. “His management style has shown that he does not care about us. He cannot take legal action against us,” said one of the teachers.

Thenga was not available for comment at the time of going to press.

Limpopo Department of Education spokesperson Ndo Mangala said they would be taking action against the principal if he had indeed taken legal action against his colleagues. “This is one of the issues which were supposed to have been raised with the department, rather than to be dealt with privately. If you have differences with your fellow teachers, the matter should be raised with the department,” said Mangala.

He said Thenga should have referred the matter to the department’s labour relations unit.

Departmental officials from the labour unit of the department visited the school on Monday. A source close to Mirror confirmed that during the visit the principal signed an agreement with the department that he will drop the charges.