THE future of about 70 pupils at Masopha High School in Bolobedu, Limpopo, hangs in the balance after they were denied access to write exams because they were repeating matric.

The affected pupils did not get exam question papers for their respective subjects.

This was because they were allegedly rejected by the department of education's examination system.

According to concerned teachers at the school, the problem was discovered more than a month ago when the pupils were given timetables.

The teachers said they had asked the principal to rectify the matter, but he allegedly ignored them.

They accused the principal, Ronny Morwatshehla, of not taking his job seriously, and instead spending more time working as a trade unionist.

Morwatshehla is the provincial chairperson of Cosatu, and also serves on structures such as Sadtu and the ANC.

"He spends most of his working hours dealing with Cosatu politics, while the school is left under the care of teachers," an angry teacher said.

Some teachers accused the principal of being a bully, and said that he undermines them.

Another teacher told Sowetan that the issue was also raised with the Modjadji circuit office, but that the officials failed to address it because they were scared of the principal because of his perceived political power.

She also claimed that the principal was boastful of his position because the school is the biggest in the Modjadji circuit.

However, Morwatshehla told Sowetan that the pupils' crisis had been attended to and they were now able to sit for the exams.

Spokesperson for the department Ndo Mangala said they were not aware of the situation but would investigate.