A Southfield father has accused Bergvliet High of discrimination after his son’s school enrolment application for next year was denied.
Brendon van Stavel levelled the accusation against Bergvliet High principal Stephen Price, who has denied the allegation.
Van Stavel said his son lived 4.4km from the school yet other students who live outside of the focus area of Bergvliet High School get preference although Callum fits all the admission criteria.
The disgruntled parent admits he had owed school fees for Callum’s previous siblings at the school at a time when he was unemployed. The debt was written off.
Van Stavel says the principal confirmed that they had a place during a face to face meeting. Van Stavel alleges that the principal hates him personally as he is outspoken so now Price targets his 13 year old youngest son.
Price argues that Van Stavel had been given a detailed letter outlining why his son had not been accepted.
He said the school had received over 1 000 applications for 240 places.
The principal says the fact that he lives closer to four other schools was only one factor. As far as his claim that the classmates have been accepted from as far afield as Strandfontein, that is incorrect.
Price added that the learners accepted are from Diep River, Southfield, Lakeside, Grassy Park and Capricorn.
He said Van Stavel’s son was one of over 80 pupils whose parents had remotivated to take one of five remaining places and that the parents had presented compelling reasons why their children should be accepted.
Price said Bergvliet High has a responsibility to look at learners from all areas and the simple fact is that the school is oversubscribed.
Van Stavel said he had lodged a complaint with Western Cape Eduction Department. The response of the circuit team manager Faldiela Chotia was; once the school intake process was completed the department would place his son at another close school.
More: Cape Times