Education
The incident that took place at the Brackenfell High School on the 9 November 2020, as well as various reports of racism shared by past and current learners on social media, has highlighted the racism that is experienced by learners at our schools:
- What is the number of complaints related to racism reported to her Department, (b) what are the names of the schools where these incidents have occurred, (c)(i) what is the number of complaints of racism against teachers and (ii) what are the details of these complaints, (d)(i) what is the number of complaints of racism against learners and (ii) what are the details of these complaints, (e)(i) what is the number of complaints of racism against parents or SGBs and (ii) what are the details of these complaints and (f) what has her Department done in response to these complaints?
- [a] There were 13 cases reported in total this year.
- The WCED will not release the names of the schools, as this would put them at risk of violent protest as was seen at Brackenfell, as well as potentially compromising the identities of the individuals that have laid complaints.
- [i] 7
- School 1: a parent laid a complaint against a teacher, who would not allow a learner to speak Xhosa during interval. The school is an English and Afrikaans medium school. The matter was investigated by the district and no merit to the allegation could be found. The school nonetheless amended its language policy to specifically allow all learners to speak in their mother tongue.
- School 2: During the #BLM campaign, matric learners presented the school with a memorandum calling the school to action and asking for apologies from the staff mentioned in anonymous social media posts by past learners. The circuit manager supported the school in resolving the matter.
School 3: it was alleged by learners that [i] teachers did not protect them from being ridiculed, and [ii] not all learners are given the same opportunity to participate in school activities. This was investigated by the district and resolved at the school.
- School 4: a group of six Black African teachers alleged that the principal violated their human rights at a staff briefing meeting. The matter was investigated by the Chief Directorate: Districts and steps with an approved management plan were put in place to address the lack of diversity at the school.
- School 5: a complaint was lodged with the South African Human Rights Commission [SAHRC] by a community member who alleged that the principal chased away 21 Black African learners away from the school. The Circuit Manager investigated the matter and found that the complaint relates to an incident where parents dropped their children off at the grade R class of the school without having been accepted at the school. These learners could not be accepted at the school due to limited spaces available in Grade R.
- School 6: a teacher laid a complaint of racism regarding the promotion of another staff member instead of herself, working conditions, and treatment of learners, among others. These claims are being investigated.
- School 7: a businessman complained that the school principal stated that the school would not do business with white companies. The claim is being investigated.
- [i] 3
- The details of these complaints are:
School 1: a learner posted racist videos on Tik Tok. The school held a disciplinary hearing for him, which was finalised in June 2020. The circuit manager supported the school.
School 2: a social media account that contains racist commentary was allegedly linked to a learner at the school. The WCED has engaged with the school and has confirmed that it was a fake account. The parents have submitted the learner’s phone to SAPS and have opened a case of defamation of character.
School 3: one learner made a racist remark towards another during a Representative Council of Learners meeting. The circuit manager investigated the matter and conducted a mediation meeting with learners and parents. The learner who had made the racist remark apologised and the apology was accepted by the aggrieved.
- [i] 3
[ii] The details of these complaints are:
School 1: the school is alleged to have hosted a matric function which excluded learners of colour. An investigation has determined that the function was entirely private and not hosted or supported by the school, and that all Grade 12 learners at the school were invited via WhatsApp.
School 2: one complaint of racism was received by a teacher after as she was overlooked for an acting promotion post. The matter was investigated and resolved with the support of the circuit manager.
School 3: a formal complaint by a worker who accused the management and governing body of racism. This matter is still being investigated by WCED as the complainant refused to co-operate with the Directorate: Employee Relations.
- The actions in response are detailed above.
MINISTER OF EDUCATION
