White South African Principal Faces 2nd Suspension in Racist Witch Hunt

Phillipa Erasmus Faces New Suspension as Gauteng Department Escalates Campaign Against White Educators

Phillipa Erasmus, principal of Pretoria High School for Girls, faces a second suspension without pay, now for allowing her husband to trim school roses for free, in what critics call a politically driven vendetta targeting South Africa’s white minority educators.

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), led by MEC Matome Chiloane, suspended Erasmus on July 28, 2025, alleging misconduct after her husband’s unpaid gardening was deemed “nepotism” and a slight against black staff.

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This follows a debunked 2024 racism scandal involving 12 white students, cleared of charges, with former President Thabo Mbeki condemning the GDE’s “dishonest” smear campaign.

READ: Persecution of South African Schools’ White Leadership: Cleared of Racism, Guilty of “Trimming Roses”

Critics argue this reflects a broader assault on high-performing, historically white schools, aiming to erode their autonomy and cultural identity under the guise of inclusivity.

Erasmus, backed by legal support, vows to fight, as South Africa’s education system teeters under ideological overreach.