THE department of education in Limpopo has warned a school principal who is dragging his fellow teachers to court to think again or face disciplinary action.

Mashau Thenga, the principal of Vhafamadi Secondary School at HaMashau village outside Thohoyandou, is suing 12 teachers for a combined R600000 for defamation.

Thenga accused the teachers of defaming his character by reporting his misconduct to the provincial education department.

A teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they lodged their grievances with the department because they were not satisfied with the manner in which Thenga was managing the school.

The fuming teachers had written to the department with a view to having the principal withdraw the lawsuit.

Now the department said Thenga had failed the school's management rules by engaging his lawyer on the matter in the workplace that warranted the department's intervention.

"His management has showed that he does not care about teachers. How can he take legal action against us?" asked a fuming teacher.

Thenga confirmed the lawsuit but declined to comment further and said the matter was private.

Departmental spokesperson Ndo Mangala said they would be taking action against the principal if he indeed took legal action against his colleagues.

"If you have differences with your fellow teachers, the matter should be raised with the department and not dealt with privately."

Mangala said Thenga should have referred the matter to the department's labour relations unit.