The Pretoria High School for Girls has suspended 12 learners on Wednesday after racism allegations surfaced at the school.
The pupils have been implicated in allegations of subtle and overt racism against black pupils at the school.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has also launched its own investigation to probe all allegations of racism at the school, especially those against school employees who are accused of being complicit in the alleged racist treatment of black pupils.
This was confirmed by GDE in a statement issued on Wednesday.
At the centre of some of the complaints by black pupils are the disparaging remarks that some white pupils make when they speak vernacular languages on school grounds.
The comments include that if black pupils wanted to converse in vernacular languages in school, they should have enrolled at township institutions.
This emanates from claims of racism at the school, where officials learned of a planned protest action by a group of learners that was planned for Friday.
The black pupils are also aggrieved that the principal is not dealing with the reported cases of racism.
A WhatsApp group comprising only white pupils, which wast o share and perpetuate disparaging remarks about black pupils, has also been exposed.
The school stated that it alerted the Tshwane South District about the planned protest.
It is understood that the earmarked protest was triggered by alleged racial connotations, micro-aggressions and complaints about black learners through a WhatsApp group comprised of white learners.
The department of education stated that it was made aware that 12 learners from the school were suspended in response to allegations of racism.
Damning WhatsApp conversations
The department spokesperson, Steve Mabona, confirmed said the conversations on WhatsApp allegedly included racial commentary about the ongoing dissatisfaction among black learners. This regarding issues they faced at the school, alluding to these issues being insignificant.
“Similar commentary about a black hair protest by learners that reportedly took place at the school in 2016 was also made in the group chat.
“An urgent meeting was facilitated on the same day as the planned protest. And aggrieved learners were given the opportunity to voice their grievances,” said Mabona.
Sunday World understands that in their grievances, learners pointed out alleged racism. They also pointed out a WhatsApp group created by only white learners. In it alleged racial micro-aggressions were channeled about learners from other racial groups.
Black learners are said to have also complained about alleged repeated instances of racism.
White learners given preferential treatment
It is also alleged that the principal also did not address reported incidents, including bullying. Also having white learners given preferential treatment by the principal and some staff members while black students were not getting the same treatment.
Another issue that black learners raised was that there was a selective application of the school code of conduct. Black girls were subjected to harsher treatment compared to white learners.
Sunday World understands that after these allegations surfaced, the School Governing Body (SGB) took action. It immediately suspended all implicated learners. They will be hauled before the disciplinary hearing on July 30 and 31 2024.
The district has launched an investigation to probe all mentioned allegations, especially against school staff.
Gauteng education MEC condemns incident
Gauteng MEC for education, Matome Chiloane condemned the incident.
“A school environment where racism and discrimination are prevalent compromises the right to education for all learners. Whether covert or subtle,” he said.
“Indeed, action must be taken against any conduct that threatens order and discipline at our institutions. Especially conduct that undermines the dignity of learners. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
