Alleged racism at KZN school

Classes disrupted by pupil protests

GEORGE Campbell School of Technology was closed yesterday morning as protests against allegations of racism continued.

Police moved in to restore calm as protesters chanted outside the school and pupils were seen running from the building. Some claimed they were being pulled out of classrooms to join the protest.

One of the protest leaders, Bongemusa Sibisi, who said he was 18 years old and in Grade 12, told the media that incidents of racism included a teacher calling African pupils “monkeys” and turpentine being put in kettles in the boarding establishment.

“We have protested about four times this year but nothing happens. I have been referred to as ‘a monkey’. There was a group of black guys sitting in the corner and there was still some noise in the class. The teacher said: ‘Hey, you monkeys, keep quiet’. We have asked the teacher to stop referring to us as monkeys, but she said it was in her culture,” said Sibisi.

Earlier in the week, pupils claimed they were referred to as “monkeys” daily. A white Grade 8 pupil, who had been at the school for six months, said he was shocked at the level of racism in the school.

“The white teachers call the black kids ‘monkeys’ and the black teachers talk in Zulu while they make fun of the white kids. There’s so much racism in this school,” he said.

Meanwhile African female pupils at the scene voiced their outrage at being forced out of class.

“We are missing our classes now because of this. The kids are running this school. Our exams were disrupted earlier this year and the teachers are scared. We cannot be ruled by these learners,” said one female student.

At the scene, SAPS Durban Central communications officer Captain Kephu Ndlovu said the police presence at the school was to ensure the safety of teachers and pupils.

“There are allegations that some of the learners’ rights have been infringed and there is also an allegation that a teacher was assaulted. We are attending to the issue and we have to make sure that learners and educators remain safe.”

KZN Department of Education spokesperson Kwazi Mthethwa said department officials were at the school.

“Circuit managers were sent to the school in the morning on a fact-finding mission and they are going to report back to us,” said Mthethwa.

The school did not respond to numerous requests for comment.