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Parents at JG Meiring High School were prepared for a smooth School Governing Body (SGB) election in March, as outlined in the provincial education department’s school year calendar. Despite the initial success of the election, they were taken aback when it was later declared null and void.
The nomination process on 5 March was well-organised, with 14 parents deemed eligible to serve as parent members on the SGB. The election took place on Monday 18 March, and parents were pleased with the fairness and transparency of the process.
However, on Wednesday 20 March, the parents were surprised to learn that the election had been declared null and void. They were left uncertain about the reasons behind this decision and sought answers from school officials.
Reason for nullification
Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the provincial education department clarified that the election was invalidated because some parents were not included in the voters’ roll, as reported by the School Electoral Officer (SEO). The decision was supported by the District Electoral Officer.
“The current SGB will continue to operate until the new SGB is declared,” Hammond stated. She reassured parents that the SGB was informed of the reasons for the nullification on Tuesday 16 April.
Parents expressed concern about the legal status of the previous or current SGB members. They questioned whether the SGB was still legally constituted and how this decision would affect the school’s governance.
“To address these concerns, a meeting was held on Tuesday 16 April, where the process and way forward were explained,” says Hammond.
The first nomination and validation meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 30 April providing a timeline for the next steps in the SGB election process.
