‘MODEL CS ALLOWED TO BE RACIST’

A DISTRAUGHT Bredasdorp mother has lamented what she describes as an alleged act of racism at her son's school, which saw three coloured boys being stripped of their sponsorships while their white counterparts received a slap on the wrist over the same transgression.

The incident now forms part of an investigation by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which said matters such as this incident were reported all too frequently.

At HTS Drostdy in Worcester, five learners – three coloured and two white – were found allegedly in possession of dagga on the school premises.

The three coloured learners are said to have had their sponsorships withdrawn, and were removed from their accommodation while their textbooks were confiscated.

The two white pupils allegedly received only warnings.

The Bredasdorp parent, who asked to remain anonymous to protect her son, said she received a call one night about two weeks ago that her child was kicked out of the hostel.

“The school called me requesting that I fetch him because he was apparently found with dagga at the school premises and can no longer stay at the hostel.

“I'm a single parent who doesn't have a car or relatives on that side. I had to scramble and find a person who was willing to assist. As a parent I would not condone his behaviour, but what has appalled me is the way the matter was handled.

“My son and other boys were apparently humiliated and told to take off the school uniform they got through the sponsorship. Their books have been taken, they no longer have accommodation, and also the entire rugby sponsorship has been withdrawn, while the two other learners only received warnings,” said the mother.

She is hoping to get assistance to appeal her son's case as she cannot afford to pay the fees, buy textbooks or the school uniform.

SAHRC commissioner Chris Nissen said they had received reports about the incident and would probe.

“It is very important that when rules are in place they must speak to everyone and not to some learners or teachers. Rules should not be based on race or gender. We will bring the parties together to get the facts and understand what transpired.”

Nissen said it was sad that they still received reports about incidents like this.

“Schools are places where children must be prepared to be citizens who will make economic contributions and should ensure an inclusive and diverse environment.

“Even the Education Department has a beautiful motto, ‘Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve', and we need to emphasise this.

Schools are knowledge generators and if the wrong knowledge and actions are portrayed then it's the abuse of power.”

WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said they had been made aware of the allegations at HTS Drostdy and were investigating as it did with any reports of racism.

“The district has requested the minutes of the disciplinary hearing and the details surrounding the case.”

But ANC provincial spokesperson on education, Khalid Sayed, said the current administration “allows former Model C and private schools to be spaces of discrimination against black learners, educators and workers by covering up racist incidents and systemic racism”.

“We were made aware of the HTS Drostdy incident last week and also of a racial incident at Bellville Technical High School, which is now being allegedly covered up by the principal and the WCED circuit manager.”

Sayed said the teacher was accused of using derogatory language by saying “die dom k ***** ” when he addressed a worker in front of two learners, after the man did not connect a hosepipe and a sprinkler properly.

“I’m not surprised that MEC Debbie Schäfer and the DA members opposed my motion on alleged racism at the German International School last week. Cover-ups even extend to white principals at former Model C schools who are implicated in corruption allegations.

“This is in contrast to the ‘draconian manner’ in which the department deals with black principals.”

Hammond said the department had investigated the Bellville Technical High School matter and the teacher was found not guilty by an independent presiding officer following a disciplinary hearing.

Progressive Principals’ Association (PPA) spokesperson Anthea Adriaanse said a school’s code of conduct was designed to help inform acceptable practices and the consequences if rules were not adhered to.

“The code of conduct must be in line with the Constitution and therefore sanctions on the basis of race are not acceptable.

“The WCED acts on the recommendations of the school and when there is an appeal, will look at the processes that were followed.””