Cape Town - Learners at Pinelands High School have started to speak out about racism they experienced amid an investigation by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) into a mock slave auction at the school.
The shocking incident, captured on video, has led to several learners being suspended as the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) conducts an investigation into the matter where coloured learners were “selling” their black classmates at the auction.
However, a Grade 12 learner has revealed that this was not the first incident, saying a teacher had been fired several years ago for using the k-word slur on black learners.
The coloured teen, who has attended Pinelands High School for five years, sad the latest incident came amid a spate of incidents, saying pupils often used racial slurs on each other.
“Frequently explicit slurs are used such as the n-word and two years ago a member of staff used the k-slur. It was a female white teacher.
“A lot of people were talking about it. The teacher directly used (it) on a student. That teacher had a history of racism. Among the students, there is a rife culture of racism and it’s a lot of casual racism where it is racist remarks but they are treated as jokes.”
A Grade 9 black learner said a close friend escaped the slave auction but was left traumatised by the incident.
The learners said that after videos of the auction were subsequently shared on social media, an assembly was called to discuss the issue, but the learners were unhappy as details of the incident were omitted, including the races of the children involved.
The teens told the Cape Argus that the learners were now feeling anxious and the atmosphere at the school was tense after a threat by the EFF to protest at the school.
They also revealed that a Hindu pupil was reduced to tears after being instructed to remove her birth bracelet, saying it violated her cultural rights.
They highlighted that while some deemed the auction a joke, not all the learners found it funny.
“A lot of the students at the school are saying it is not the fault of the school and everyone shouldn’t be blamed as it’s only a few students, the coloured boys, who felt this is something they should do.
“They felt comfortable enough to do it on school campuses with other students and to post it online,’’ the Grade 12 learner said.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the investigation was ongoing and nearing completion with 24 learners having been interviewed in the first two school days since the allegations were made.
“Four learners are currently on suspension and will face a disciplinary hearing. Steps will also be taken against other learners who may have transgressed certain provisions of the code of conduct.
“Counselling support has been prioritised, with debriefing sessions having already taken place for all Grade 8 learners, and further support for the rest of the school. The WCED is also supplementing the counselling support.
“A disciplinary process is being followed. The outcome of this process will determine the way forward in addressing this matter further. The school has expressed its appreciation to the school community for their support in dealing with the matter.”
Hammond denied that any teacher was fired for using a racial slur.
“To the school’s knowledge there is no teacher of that name having been ‘fired’ from the school. They cannot recall such an incident and are checking further records. The WCED has also checked its records and there has been no incidents of this nature at this school involving an educator in our employment.”
Hammond said the allegations regarding the birth bracelets were being followed up by the school.
“This allegation is being followed up by the school. The school does make concessions for religious and cultural diversity. The school’s policy allows parents to apply to the School Governing Body for a concession regarding uniform and appearance,” said Hammond.
mahira.duval@inl.co.za
Cape Argus