Principal’s husband, SGB chairman speak out over Gauteng ANC’s ongoing attack on Pretoria Girls High

In a bizarre turn of events, Gauteng’s Education Department suspended the headmistress of Pretoria High School for Girls - over garden maintenance. Alec Hogg speaks to her husband Mike Erasmus and school governing body chair Craig Hezlitt, exposing what appears to be a political vendetta wrapped in bureaucratic overreach.Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here..Watch here.Listen here.BizNews Reporter.When is planting roses a punishable offence? In South Africa’s education system, apparently - when the person doing the planting is married to the headmistress of a public school under political scrutiny.This is the surreal reality facing Philippa Erasmus, the head of Pretoria High School for Girls, who’s been handed a three-month suspension without pay by the Gauteng Department of Education. Her crime? Allowing her retired husband, Mike Erasmus, to volunteer his time to improve the school’s gardens.But this is no ordinary HR dispute. What’s unfolding at Pretoria Girls is emblematic of a deeper crisis in the South African public sector - where ideology and internal ANC factionalism often take precedence over merit, community, and common sense.Speaking to BizNews founder Alec Hogg, Mike Erasmus and Craig Hezlitt, chairperson of the school’s governing body, laid bare what they describe as a politically motivated campaign to tarnish the reputation of a school that should, by any measure, be held up as a model of educational success.A legacy targetedPhilippa Erasmus isn’t just another bureaucrat in the system. She’s an alumna of the school she now leads. Under her stewardship, the institution has achieved a staggering 91% bachelor's pass rate - far above the Gauteng and national averages. Discipline, morale, and learner outcomes have all improved. So why the suspension?Mike Erasmus, a former mining executive turned retiree, explained that he merely lent a hand in restoring the once-pristine gardens to their former glory - a project fully supported by the school’s governing body, with no money changing hands. “I offered guidance to the gardeners, trained them, showed them how to prune, manage flowerbeds, and maintain the grounds,” he said. “They became proud of their work.”But this simple act of service would become political dynamite.According to the disciplinary charges, Philippa Erasmus allowed her husband to “supervise” school staff - an act construed as misconduct. He was also accused of using a school vehicle for private errands - though all evidence shows the vehicle was used to transport plants and garden materials, not for personal trips.The real agenda?Craig Heslitt believes the charges are a smokescreen. “There’s an adult political agenda at play here,” he said. “Pretoria High School for Girls has been targeted every four years - 2016, 2020, and now 2024. It’s like an Olympic cycle of political theatre.”Previous controversies at the school, including a blow-up over hairstyles and a wave of Black Lives Matter activism, drew national attention. Now, allegations of racism resurfaced via a WhatsApp group. Yet Philippa was found not guilty of mishandling the racial issue - while being punished for lesser charges that many say simply don’t hold water.One of the most disturbing elements of this saga is that the appeal process goes directly to Gauteng MEC Panyaza Lesufi himself - who has been anything but impartial. “How can you appeal to the man who’s been leading the charge against you on national television?” Mike Erasmus asked pointedly.A broader chilling effectThis case is already sending shudders through South Africa’s education community. Educators from across the country have quietly reached out to both Heslitt and Erasmus, sharing their own stories of being silenced or punished for challenging departmental decisions.But this time, the governing body isn’t backing down. Legal action is already underway - both in Philippa’s personal capacity and through the school’s support structure. According to Hezlitt, multiple learners who were initially accused of racism have also filed suits for defamation and improper handling by the department.“This isn’t just about one school,” said Hezlitt. “Philippa’s standing up for what’s right - for process, principle, and for education in this country.”DA on the sidelines?Interestingly, the national Education Minister - now a DA member in the new government of national unity - has been conspicuously quiet. “We reached out in the beginning and were told there was a ‘separation of powers’,” Mike said. “Only now, a year later, are we seeing some action.”Sergio dos Santos, a DA MPL in Gauteng, has pushed back publicly against the MEC’s actions. But broader political will appears lacking. If this is the DA’s approach in government, critics worry it may be turning a blind eye to ANC-style governance in departments it claims to oversee.Steel meets bayonetFrans Cronje of the Institute of Race Relations often quotes the old Soviet maxim: “Push the bayonet in until you hit steel.” In this case, it seems the department has finally hit steel - in the form of a committed school leader, a defiant governing body, and a growing national spotlight.For Philippa Erasmus, it’s a personal and professional ordeal. For South Africa, it’s a sobering reminder of what happens when a state designed to serve the public starts punishing those who do just that.This story is far from over. But one thing is clear: there’s far more growing in those gardens than flowers—there’s a fight for the soul of public education.

Principal’s husband, SGB chairman speak out over Gauteng ANC’s ongoing attack on Pretoria Girls High

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