Cape Town – An altercation reportedly ensued between white and black parents, who converged at Jan Viljoen Hoerskool in Randfontein, Westrand, Johannesburg on Thursday, to hear Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi speak following an alleged racially-motivated clash between black and white learners at the school.
According to TimesLive, the altercation erupted over access to the field where Lesufi was set to address them, with some claiming, over the Public Address (PA) system, that black parents were not being allowed in.
ALSO READ: ‘No 12-year-old knows hate!’ – Anele Mdoda reacts to racism incident at Jan Viljoen Hoerskool
Police had to move in between the irate crowd to calm the situation down as some people were said to be singing struggle songs, fueling the racial divisions, the report said.
Racial tensions heightening at Hoerskool Jan Viljoen @Lesufi where are you? @Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/ZannmbWzJo
— Nwabisa Mphati (@MphatiNwabisa) February 17, 2022
Due to bad weather conditions in the area, Lesufi arrived late, resulting in him not being able to address the parents on time.
He moved the meeting to Sunday.
Earlier, in a statement shared by his department, Lesufi said the purpose of the meeting was for the MEC to report back and listen to the parents’ concerns.
Meanwhile, SABC reported that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) had launched an investigation into the alleged racially-motivated clashes between the black and white learners at the school.
“We have decided to investigate the allegations of unfair discrimination and racism at the school as well as the voice note being circulated on social media where learners are being called the so-called K word,” the report quoted SAHRC Commissioner Andre Gaum as saying.
On Monday, parents and other groups protested outside the school with placards written “No to racism”.
Schooling at the school remains suspended for now following the alleged incident.
Tweeps have reacted:
#HoerskoolJanViljoen
Chaos has broken out at a sports field in Randfontein. That’s where a meeting between parents of learners at Hoerskool Jan Viljoen and Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi is expected to take place.
White parents are fighting with black parents pic.twitter.com/x7bpVBwxHL— Ndaedzo Nethonzhe (@NdaedzoNN) February 17, 2022
I never thought I’d live to see this day in our nearly 3 decades ‘young democracy’, when Blacks abandon their village and township schools, and go to fight Whites to impose their children on Apartheid institutions with names like Jan Viljoen Hoer Skool and
Transvaler Laersdkool.— MK (@MK240458) February 17, 2022
MEC apologises for being late, due to storm. The meeting will be re-scheduled. Parent says she is happy now that MEC addressed them. #janviljoen @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/MHrk3O9v9j
— Catherine White (@SC_White_) February 17, 2022
Jan Viljoen hoërskool is fucked
— kate moss ❄️ (@pufffdadddy69) February 16, 2022
Did the parents at Jan Viljoen school that came to the school to protect their children show their tolerance of each other and was it only parents that were there? The display that happened in front of the children was racist if not criminal at times. The SAHRC must investigate.
— Terry, The true son of the soil. (@TMicholson) February 16, 2022
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Compiled by Odwa Shumi
