WHY DID EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DECIDE TO SUSPEND BILIBANA
"whatsapp messages and gifts are part of the evidence that caused Bilibana's suspension"
Although an Eastern Cape school principal, accused of sexual harassment was released by the Maluti magistrate court in a bizarre process the department of education seems to have done its own investigation on the matter and has got a strong evidence that compels them to take action.
On Wednesday District Director of the Department of Education in the Alfred Nzo West, Monwabisi Mbangeni confirmed to The Informer that a suspension letter has been served to Zamokuhle JSS principal, Thabo Bilibana. “The letter is suspending him with immediate effect so that the department can continue with investigations without disturbance”, said Mbangeni.
Asked what evidence does the department have against Bilibana? Mbangeni said, that is between the employer and its employee but “I can confirm that the evidence that the department has is so strong that there is no other way but to investigate the allegations. Bilibana was arrested by Maluti police for alleged sexual harassment but was released the following day without pleading guilty or not.
A source at the Education Department who is close to the investigation told The Informer that the department has received whatsapp messages sent by the principal to this 14 year old grade 9 learner. “The principal also bought some gifts for the learner. The latest gift bought by the principal is a watch”, the source said.
The source said some of the messages sent to the learner were saying “yizo kwembatha nam ezingubeni”, uzobangumfazi wam wena and more.
The learner has saved the name of the principal as “Principal” in her cell phone. “The learner would report each and every incident that happened between them to her parents.
In an interview with The Informer Bilibana denied knowledge of these allegations. I don’t even know this child, I have never been on a one on one with her. This is just a plot”, he said. Bilibana also commented about his release by the court of Maluti. He said two magistrates and the prosecutor spoke amongst themselves talking about the complainant’s statement and they told him to go there is no case. On an enquiring about this we were told that the docket was not enrolled in the court.
Bilibana is the second principal to be suspended on allegations of sexual offences in the Alfred Nzo West region in a week’s time. Mzingisi Zibi of Bonxa SSS in the same region was served with his letter of suspension while behind bars. Zibi is going to appear before the Ntabankulu court on the 20th of June for bail application
