Cape Town – The African National Congress (ANC) has demanded an investigation into racism at Western Cape schools after a disturbing video emerged showing black students being auctioned off by their classmates.
The video shared on WhatsApp and leaked to the media shows at least two male black pupils behind a gate in a fenced-off area as several mixed-race “coloured” students appear to be shouting bids for them.
The video, entitled “Slavery at school is crazy”, was “deeply disturbing and hurtful”, Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said, according to AFP.
The school has opened a disciplinary investigation into allegations of racist bullying, she said.
Another school racism video has emerged. This time, from Cape Town’s Pinelands High.#etvnews 26 July pic.twitter.com/blckpIiJVP
— e.tv 8PM News (@8pm_e) July 26, 2024
According to EWN, ANC spokesperson Khalid Sayed criticised the failure to address racism in former model C schools and urged Premier Alan Winde and Education Minister David Maynier to act urgently.
“This incident reflects the pervasive problem that often goes unreported in many of the former model C schools in the Western Cape, suggesting a failure to adequately address and combat racism at the system level. Premier Alan Winde and David Maynier must take urgent action to tackle racism across provincial schools,” the report quoted Sayed as saying.
The incident followed another racial controversy at Pretoria High School for Girls, where students were suspended for racial microaggressions.
12 PRETORIA GIRLS HIGH LEARNERS SUSPENDED FOR SUSPECTED RACISM
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) is aware that about 12 learners from Pretoria High School for Girls were suspended in response to allegations of racism at the school. pic.twitter.com/UrjtYXkEdE
— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) July 24, 2024
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
