Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit supports Pretoria West school SGB to ensure no disruptions to learning

Soundbite: Barry Bateman (English)

Soundbite: Barry Bateman (Afrikaans)

The support of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit for Laerskool Generaal Beyers’ school governing body (SGB) chairperson Themba Mthembu and teacher Jealous Ngobeni has resulted in the variation of an interim order allowing Mthembu conditional access to the school property. Fellow teacher Wesley Barnard, who was mentioned in a parent petition to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), filed a protection order against Mthembu, barring him from entering school grounds and effectively preventing him from performing his duties as SGB chairperson. Barnard also filed a protection order against Ngobeni, another member of the SGB, claiming harassment, interference in his daily work, and interference in school management issues.

Mthembu approached the unit for assistance because the bad relationship between the SGB and the now suspended principal Rabia Nuruddin, and the failure of the GDE to act, was interfering with the school’s proper functioning. The unit assisted Mthembu in filing criminal charges against suspended principal Rabia Nuruddin for alleged abuse of school resources. Advocate Gerrie Nel, the head of the unit, supported by Advocate Phyllis Vorster represented Mthembu and Ngobeni in the Pretoria Harassment Court on Wednesday, 9 April. The matter was postponed for hearing until 30 June 2025.

The transfer of the principal to the Department’s Head Office comes after Mthembu filed a criminal complaint at the Pretoria West police station against Nuruddin in January, accusing her of illegally using an official school credit card three times during the December 2024 school holidays.

The day after the GDE suspended Nuruddin, Barnard and two other teachers allegedly removed several items from the school. Mthembu then filed theft charges against Barnard and others. The interim order obtained ex parte was served on Mthembu and Ngobeni on 4 March 2025.

The school made headlines in November last year when the Hawks descended on the school and reportedly seized evidence. This related to a matter reported to the Hawks relating to abuse and misappropriation of school resources.

Barry Bateman, the unit’s spokesperson, says: “The GDE’s failure to act decisively on the matters reported to them resulted in one teacher applying for an unusual and unnecessary harassment order against a fellow teacher and the chairperson of the SGB, which had to be defended in court. Mr Ngobeni desires nothing more than to teach without interference, while Mr Mthembu is keen to proceed with the excellent work the new SGB has done so far.”

Advocates Nel and Vorster will ensure that all the replying papers are filed, that all the relevant facts are presented to court, and will represent Mthembu and Ngobeni on 30 June 2025.