THE former Westville Girls’ High School (WGHS) teacher, Danielle de Bruyn has issued an official statement following an alleged racist rant at the prestigious all-girls school.
It has been alleged that De Bruyn last week used the racial slur to refer to African people.
She also reportedly said Zimbabwe was a failed state as it was ruled by black people and South Africa would follow suit if land expropriation without compensation was approved.
De Bruyn resigned on 27 August.
However, according to her statement, she claims her words were taken out of context.
The 26-year-old said she never used the k-word “in reference to any individual or group” but ‘referenced’ it to draw a comparison between the n-word while discussing Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.
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She said she has also not been accused of doing so.
“I explained to the class that the American farmers in the novel had been socialised to believe that black people were of lower level than themselves and that any goodness the farmers had with them had been overshadowed by their racial prejudice,” she wrote in the statement.
She said the discussion then evolved into the controversial South African land expropriation topic.
“In response to a question by a learner regarding my opinion on the matter, I expressed a personal view to the effect that the proposal that land be re-distributed without compensation was a concern and that violence was never an acceptable means of addressing a problem,” she added in the statement.
De Bruyn who is also a former WGHS learner said she ‘deeply’ regrets the turn of events and admitted that her mistake was expressing her personal view in the classroom.
“This was a product of inexperience and political nativity over a very complex issue,” she said.
She apologised to the school and her learners.
Steven Tait, who is the chairman of the school’s governing body said he was unable to comment on the matter.
He said any comment regarding the issue would have to requested from the Department of Education (DOE).
On 29 August, Tait released the first and final statement from the school confirming that the school would be working with the KwaZulu-Natal DEO to investigate the matter.
“Westville Girls’ High School apologises sincerely to the learners, parents, alumni and the community for the hurt caused,” he said.
The Highway Mail has requested comment from the DEO.
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