TimesLIVE reports that the Western Cape High Court has dismissed an application by the school governing body (SGB) of Paarlzicht Primary in Paarl in which it sought to set aside the appointment of Gareth Duraan as school principal.  

In a two-year stalemate, the SGB’s preferred candidate was Douglas Oormeyer.  The body claimed it only intended to submit the name of Oormeyer for consideration, but a department official who was monitoring the recruitment process, Naziem Dalvey, interfered in the deliberations of the SGB and insisted that Duraan’s name also be submitted to the department head.  The latter decided that Duraan was the most suitable candidate for the appointment.   In its review application, the SGB asserted the head of department decided to appoint Duraan as a result of bias.  It claimed in court that Duraan and the department head had worked together in the West Coast and Wynland education districts where they were closely acquainted.  It also claimed that Dalvey had a close relationship with Duraan and they were colleagues for years in the Atlantis and Wynland education district offices.  The head of department flatly denied that he was acquainted with Duraan, as alleged.  The judge said the department head exercised his discretion fairly in selecting one candidate over the other.  He ruled:  “In my judgment, the decision of the head of department, viewed objectively, is rational and unquestionable.”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLIVE

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