CAPE TOWN - Matric learners at Good Hope Seminary School in Gardens protested over allegations of systematic discrimination and racism, citing an incident on May 12 where a coloured learner allegedly called a black African learner the N word.
Good Hope Seminary School, pupil representative Zethu Hlabeni said they took issue with their school allegedly holding a meeting where the victim was without a representative and where she was requested to apologise.
“The incident happened on Thursday on the school premises. The victim went home and wrote a status on her phone expressing that she was hurt by what the other learner had repeatedly said to her. She did not name her in the status so everyone was still wondering who the other learner was.
“We assume she felt intimidated because she came with her parents to school. The victim was called to a meeting without a representative or her parents. That is where she was threatened that (she) will no longer be among the learner representatives at school. So she had to apologise,” Hlabeni said.
Another pupil representative said the incident was the boiling point following other instances where teachers allegedly referred to pupils as looking like domestic workers and staff allegedly calling the some pupils “darkies”.
The school principal referred all questions to the Western Cape education department.
Education spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said they were aware of that a learner allegedly made remarks, as well as, other concerns raised by the Grade 12 class.
She said department officials visited the school.
“The principal has already met with the learner representatives to discuss their concerns. A report received from the school indicates that at no stage did the learner sit in a meeting with the accused parent.
“The teacher has indicated that upon hearing about the alleged incident the two learners were asked to engage with each other and an apology (was) issued by the accused. This happened on two occasions with both parties indicating that the matter had been resolved. The priority is to ensure that teaching and learning resumes and that the issues raised are heard, addressed and resolved,” said Hammond .
SAHRC education commissioner Andre Gaum said: “It is critically important that a diversity and sensitivity programme is developed and rolled out at all schools in the country. We are in discussions with DBE because discrimination and racism issues at school always come up and are critical.
Cape Times