The principal of a boys school in South Africa's economic heartland of Gauteng has been served with a dismissal notice following the drowning of a 13-year-pupil during a school trip earlier this year.

The Gauteng education department said an inquiry had found the principal of Parktown Boys' High School, Malcolm Williams, guilty of taking the children on the trip without prior approval, and for failing to do a proper roll call.

Mr Williams has five days to appeal against the ruling.

He was acquitted of the charge of endangering the lives of pupils by flouting safety regulations, which required pupils to wear life jackets during water activities.

Enock Mpianzi drowned in the Crocodile River at a lodge in South Africa's North West province during a school orientation camp in January.

His family and Mr Williams have not yet commented on the ruling.