Hoërskool Ben Vorster. Photo: X/@kimheller3
Racism has reared its ugly head again after a pupil from Limpopo uttered the K word to popular YouTuber Sonwabile during a live video chat on the Kick platform.
In the video, which has since gone viral, the pupil casually calls a shirtless Sonwabile wearing a red hat an EFF k*****
“You EFF k*****.” A girl sitting next to the pupil then laughs at the mocking comment.
Taken aback, Sonwabile perhaps shocked, responds calmly to the racist remark.
“EFF k*****? Whoa, okay? that’s not nice. What the f***, that is not nice. In 2023, we are still dealing with racism.”
The live feed is then ended by the pupil.
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With the video going viral, the pupil and the school was quickly identified prompting the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Mopani, Limpopo to mobilise at the institution.
“Mopani regional leadership led by Chairperson Mangena Simon and student mobilisation committee members at Ben Vorster High School in Tzaneen [have been urged] to engage and dismantle apartheid after their learner called EFF a K***r,” posted the branch.
“Manganyi also engaged in a meeting with school management of Ben Vorster High School about the racist utterances of a pupil at the school, Erhard Vorster,” the Limpopo EFF posted.
EFF MP Mmabatho Mokause labelled the incident as “disgusting”.
“But [it is] actually not surprising coming [from] that school and that part of town,” she said.
Mokause said the EFF was of the view that racism was still thriving in South Africa “because the ruling elite feels ashamed” to denounce such occurrences publicly.
Head of the EFF International Relations Godrich Gardee also shared his disgust at the racist video.
“Do we have his home address so that we can visit him for tea and have a talk with him on what it means to utter such words. We take a priest and police along to meet his parents…”
The pupil, reportedly a 16-year-old in Grade 9, has since gone offline, while Ben Vorster High School also deactivated comments on the school’s social media pages.
In a statement, Eddie Vorster, the chairperson of Ben Vorster High School’s governing body said they immediately launched an investigation after the incident.
“The broadcast took place after school hours, was unrelated to school activities and the school was not directly implicated or identified.
“The governing body strongly condemns the incident. It is in direct contrast with the values of the school and is in no way a reflection on the culture of inclusivity at the school,” Vorster said.
“There is no direct family link between Vorster and the learner,” he said.
Vorster said the Limpopo Education Department has been informed of the incident and a conversation with the pupil and his parents also took place.
“The pupil has shown remorse and realises that his behaviour was unacceptable. The governing body emphasises that in the case of minor children, adult role-players have a duty to educate. The case will be handled in a responsible manner.
“Everyone from parents to teachers have a duty to contribute to the development of responsible citizens. Inclusivity, respect for others and tolerance are very high on this list,” Vorster said.
Vorster said the incident will be investigated in accordance with the disciplinary policy and the impact on the school’s reputation will be considered.
“As with all sanctions against pupils in a disciplinary context, any potential sanctions in this case will be based on the duty to educate. In other words, not only punishment but positive behavioural change.
“Irrespective of the outcome of the governing body’s investigation, Vorster says programmes will be developed to inform pupils of the various aspects of the school’s ethical code of conduct,” Vorster said.
Equality, economic and social rights make up the bulk of violations reported to the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), with racism the highest reported reason for unfair discrimination.
This was not surprising though, according to the commission, given South Africa’s history of colonialism and apartheid, which institutionalised the denial of rights to the majority black population and entrenched a system of inequality.
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