Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate what factors influence the effective appointment of principals in South African township schools, with specific reference to the Johannesburg South District at Soweto Township in the Gauteng Province. This district was purposively selected because of recent media reports regarding community protest in relation to principal appointments. The research intended to establish whether there was undue influence regarding principal appointments in these schools. In order to ascertain this, it was necessary to gauge the factors that influenced such appointments. The research design and methods applied in this study were associated with qualitative research methodology. Various techniques for collecting and analysing data that fit the purpose of this study were explored to develop an in-depth knowledge of the phenomenon being investigated. Purposive sampling was used in order to ensure that only the richest possible source of information to answer the research questions was obtained. The participant selection size was fixed, targeting seven officials that were directly linked to the process of principal appointments. However, the tools used to collect data were semi-structured interviews, document analysis and observation to allow me, as the researcher to gain greater understanding on the factors that influence the process. The study has revealed how various factors influence the effective appointments of principals in South African township school. It is evidence that there are various factors that unduly influence principal appointments. These factors reflected a network of malpractices from all angles of the system and not just from teacher unions as portrayed by other similar studies. In addressing the findings there is an urgent need to review the process on how these tendencies can be curbed. Further research studies need to be pursued to measure the extent of influence that principals appointed by undue influence has on effective school management, especially in township schools.
M.A. (Educational Management)