Ball in Roedean’s court after another resignation

The Roedean School tennis saga continues to gather pace, with no promised rematch likely any time soon. 

Days after the principal of Roedean, a top private school for girls, resigned following an antisemitic incident over a tennis match, the chairperson of the board has now stepped down. 

A Change.org petition launched by parents unhappy about the decision to apologise to King David for antisemitism is gaining traction, while an Old Roedeanian has circulated a call for respect and calm. King David has accepted the apology, but Roedean is scrambling to steady its game. 

Roedean has made no contact with King David High School since apologising on 12 February, despite its commitment to continuing to work with King David and “rescheduling the match for our girls”. 

In a letter to parents, staff, and members of the Roedean community dated 16 February 2026, the board confirmed that it had accepted the resignation of Chairperson Dale Quaker with immediate effect. It said Quaker’s decision followed “careful reflection” on the pressure the recent period had placed on him and his family, noting that public commentary had crossed acceptable boundaries and affected their sense of safety and well-being. 

“The stepping down and resignations have much to do with not having been prepared to handle the issue truthfully from the get-go, and thus failing to act with real conviction,” said Sara Gon, fellow of the Institute of Race Relations. 

“So, in having raised issues that weren’t correct or pertinent, the Roedean side came out looking evasive and uncertain about issues on which there should be clear principle. The criticism should be expected in a situation of prevarication. The pressure to resign was clearly considerable,” she said. 

The Roedean board expressed gratitude for Quaker’s leadership during what it described as a particularly demanding chapter in the school’s history, and said it remained fully constituted and operational, with no disruption to governance or daily academic and co-curricular activities. Thembi Mazibuko was appointed interim chairperson with immediate effect. 

Quaker’s resignation comes shortly after the departure of Roedean’s principal, Phuti Mogale, intensifying focus on the school’s leadership. The board’s apology to King David School has drawn criticism from some within Roedean’s broader community. 

The petition expresses dissatisfaction with the decision to apologise to King David. While acknowledging the need to reject antisemitism, the petition argues that the board’s statement didn’t sufficiently recognise what it describes as the constitutional rights of parents and pupils to act in accordance with conscience and political belief. It contends that the incident was framed primarily as discrimination, without adequately distinguishing between antisemitism and political objections related to Zionism and Israel. 

The petition calls for clearer differentiation between antisemitism and political dissent, and urges the school to affirm freedom of conscience and facilitate internal dialogue. 

At the same time, an open letter by Gontse Nkwe, a former pupil at Roedean and current parent, South African Old Roedeanian Association (SAORA) committee member, and Roedean School board member, has sought to encourage reflection. Writing in her personal capacity, Nkwe said she was responding to questions, frustrations, and expectations of SAORA during a difficult period. 

Nkwe emphasised that SAORA was an independent body focused on stewardship of values and continuity across generations, not on day-to-day governance. She acknowledged the pressure on the school to “take a side”, but argued that Roedean had historically taught its pupils “how to think, not what to think”, and to engage thoughtfully with complex issues. 

Nkwe noted that a formal process was taking place to examine whether systems had functioned as they should, and said the work focused on understanding structural breakdowns and restoring alignment with shared values. 

“At Roedean, we were taught that it is possible – and necessary – to live and work alongside people whose views, beliefs, histories, and identities differ profoundly from our own. Respect doesn’t require agreement, and holding one’s own position doesn’t require the erasure of another’s. Tolerance isn’t a slogan but a lived discipline,” she writes. 

The board has stated that with an interim chairperson now in place and a review process under way, the school continues to address concerns raised within its community. 

In earlier correspondence, the board said the decision to cancel the tennis fixture was taken without the board’s knowledge, and didn’t reflect the views of Roedean’s broader constituencies, including current and past students, parents, staff, and the board itself. 

“Rebuilding trust will require transparency, accountability, and consistency from the board and leadership,” it said. 

The ball now rests in Roedean’s court, with King David awaiting word on a rematch.