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WATCH: SAHRC to investigate Hoërskool Jan Viljoen incident after alleged racial fight
An allegedly racially motivated fight has sparked tension among parents, political parties and civil society.
Parents, political parties and civil society organisations are at loggerheads after an alleged racially motivated incident took place at Hoërskool Jan VIljoen last week. Photo: Tumi Riba/Randfontein Herald
Tensions reached boiling point at Hoërskool Jan Viljoen in Randfontein on Monday, with parents, pupils, political parties and civil society organisations currently at the school, reports Randfontein Herald.
This after a fight broke out between two groups of pupils on Friday.
Randfontein police spokesperson Sergeant Carmen Hendricks told the publication the altercation was prompted by one group playing music, when another told them they were making a noise. A fight then broke out.
Although no injuries were reported, it is thought the altercation was racially motivated.
The incident prompted Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi to visit the school on Monday on a “fact-finding mission”.
Lesufi went to the school to meet with the school’s management and pupils.
After meeting with the school, Lesufi confirmed all evidence in the form of WhatsApp messages sent by pupils and parents had been handed over to police and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
“I want to assure you as parents that are here, all of you, I appreciate your presence and concerns.”
When Lesufi addressed pupils of the school, disturbing stories of alleged racism emerged, with black learners saying they were being treated unfairly by white pupils and teachers alike.
He said the pupils in question were all minors, and that police were investigating the matter. Lesufi committed to updating the pupils as soon as more information has come to light.
Lesufi also said he would be meeting with Hoërskool Jan Viljoen teaching staff, after receiving information they were uttering “words that are hurting” black pupils.
On Tuesday, he will be meeting with parents.
“All the issues of racism in this school, I don’t want them to be investigated by the SGB [school governing body] or the district. I’m going to call the SAHRC to come. It’s time we set an example that we are not stepchildren in this country, we also belong and we must be protected.”
In addition, it emerged young girls feel they are not safe at the school.
“I’m here with the MEC for social development, I will ask her to put together a team to investigate these allegations immediately. I’ll speak to the SGB and school management, can’t have somebody here when learners don’t feel safe with that person,” Lesufi told cheering pupils.
“Violence, for whatever reason, does not belong in our schools and the perpetrators will face the necessary disciplinary action,” Lesufi said in an earlier statement.
Rand West municipal mayor Gladys Khosa also plans to visit the school on Monday.
Situation ‘volatile’
Randfontein journalist Tumi Riba reported from the scene that the situation was “extremely volatile”.
Riba said political parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African National Congress (ANC), as well as AfriForum and a private security company arrived at the scene, fuelling an already tense situation between irate parents.
Police had to disperse pupils with water cannons inside the school, while the school gate has been locked to keep the parents, politicians and organisations out.
Despite attempts to talk to the school, Hoërskool Jan Viljoen has only responded to the incident via their Facebook page.
“The senior management team and school governing body (SGB) deplore the behaviour of individuals involved in the incident at school on Friday. The school and SGB have already started to investigate the incident and will continue to do so.
“We want to assure you that the guilty parties will be published in terms of the SA Schools Act and the code of conduct of the school,” the statement read.
This is a developing story. Updates to follow as more information is made available.
Edited by Nica Richards.
Parts of this article first appeared on Caxton publication Randfontein Herald, by Tumi Riba and Michelle Roodt. Read the original article here.
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