Student is acquitted of ‘black facing’ after probe

AN independent inquiry has found that the Stellenbosch University student who posted photos of herself in an alleged black face incident is not guilty of any wrongdoing.

In February, student Christine “Poekie” Briedenhann posted a photo of herself and a friend with faces painted purple on photo-sharing platform Instagram. In the image, their faces appeared to be painted black, an act usually perpetuating racial stereotypes about black people.

The issue exploded online, and the university mandated an independent inquiry.

In her findings published on the university website, Renata Williams, an independent advocate with the Cape Bar, said: “I have considered the contents of the two statements prepared by Christine and the statements provided by their fellow Heemstede residents, and accept that there was no intention to partake in black facing.”

Williams said the matter provoked rage among the student community and social network users, posing a danger not only to Briedenhann and her friend, “but also to the other residents of Heemstede”.

At the time Briedenhann confir med she was in fact dressed up as a purple alien for a space-themed residence party.

In her report, Williams said they were dressed up for a Stellar Space house-warming party at the Heemstede female residence on February 4.

Her friends took the picture in a room that was not welllit, giving the purple paint a darker appearance.

“Christine explained that the charge against them was based upon a distortion and misrepresentation of the facts,” Williams said.

Briedenhann was quoted in the report as saying the picture “led to the traumatic media storm that engulfed us, our parents, and our extended family”.

Williams reported too that Briedenhann’s cellphone number was shared online by an unknown person and they received “constant threatening messages and phone calls”.

“A group of protesters had gained access to the (Heemstede) residence and walked through the passages looking for them, but were told by the HK members that they were not there,” Williams said.

She recommended the university adopt a social media policy to warn students of the “dangers of posting contentious material in whatever form… since it may leave an indelible stain on their integrity, and impact adversely on employment prospects”.

“Officials need to be equipped on how to deal with situations of this nature,” Williams added.