Best of 2025: Richard Wilkinson, School Capture - Inside the political siege of SA’s classrooms

In 2025, the School Capture saga uncovered how politics, ideology and factional power infiltrated South Africa’s education system. Through Richard Wilkinson’s investigations and exclusive interviews, this collection reveals a troubling pattern of overreach—from weaponised misconduct charges to ideological pressure campaigns—exposing the battle for control over schools, teachers and students.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..BizNews Reporter.The SAHRC, under Professor Tshepo Madlingozi, embraced Critical Race Theory and Marxist ideas, pushing radical education reforms and “decolonisation” in South African schools. Amid internal chaos and controversies, the Western Cape Education Department faced pressure to adopt these ideologies—raising alarm over potential manipulation, politicisation, and the undermining of factual, evidence-based education..SAHRC, WCED in perilous tango over learner rights: Richard Wilkinson.Pretoria High School for Girls faced a hostile parliamentary ambush as ANC and EFF MPs grilled Principal Mrs Erasmus for over four hours, demanding documents tied to a debunked “WhatsApp racism” scandal. Despite the school’s academic excellence and multiracial student body, political power plays continued to target its leadership and legacy..Political storm hits top school: Pretoria Girl’s High under fire – Richard Wilkinson.Nearly a year after Pretoria Girls High’s “racism” scandal, Principal Mrs Erasmus was found guilty of two counts of misconduct in a controversial, widely criticised ruling. Despite no evidence of racism, political pressure and departmental overreach targeted her, exposing a deeper struggle over power, control, and the attempted capture of Gauteng schools..Richard Wilkinson: School Capture - The ludicrous persecution of the Pretoria Girls High principal.After a year of politically charged investigations, Pretoria Girls’ principal Mrs Erasmus was handed a three-month unpaid suspension over minor, disputed charges. Parents, teachers and lawyers launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover her losses and defend wrongly accused students, directly challenging the Gauteng Department of Education’s ongoing campaign of intimidation.PHSG School Capture Part 10: Join the counter-offensive - Richard Wilkinson.Pretoria High School for Girls principal Philippa Erasmus faced a three-month suspension after allowing her retired husband to volunteer in the school gardens. Supporters called it a politically motivated attack, highlighting a deeper crisis in South Africa’s public education system, where ideology and factionalism overrode merit, community and common sense..Principal’s husband, SGB chairman speak out over Gauteng ANC’s ongoing attack on Pretoria Girls High.A crowdfunding campaign supporting Pretoria High School for Girls principal Mrs Philippa Erasmus raised R141,151 from 100 donors after her three-month suspension for allowing her husband to volunteer in the school garden. The appeal continued, with donations remaining open—reflecting widespread public support against what many viewed as an unfair verdict..Update on the Pretoria Girls crowdfunding initiative: Richard Wilkinson

Best of 2025: Richard Wilkinson, School Capture - Inside the political siege of SA’s classrooms

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