Racial tension exposed at schools
Police were called in to quell disruptions at Wentworth Secondary School.
WHILE the Department of Education in KZN has not been made aware of allegations of racial discrimination and bullying in schools around south Durban, parents say they are struggling to deal with the repercussions of discriminatory behaviour, 28 years after the downfall of apartheid.
Police were called in after disruptions of lessons amid allegations of racial tension between black and coloured children at Wentworth Secondary School, on Thursday, April 28.
Communications officer of the Wentworth SAPS, Captain Mbuso Gumede, said SAPS were joined by Metro Police, security companies, and Public Order Policing to stabilise the situation and ensure the safety of learners, teachers and residents, forcing parents to rush to school to ensure the safety of their children.
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Meanwhile, racial discimination had reared its head at Phambili Secondary School in Montclair, this time against the only white learner left at the school. The Grade 10 learner’s mother, Nicky Marran, said she is still shocked that the abuse is inflicted by a teacher.
The spokesperson for the Department of Education in KZN, Kwazi Mthethwa, said both incidents have not been brought to the attention of the department and are probably being dealt with at circuit and district level.
“Racial discrimination is not taken lightly and we will investigate once the matter is brought to our attention,” said Mthethwa. Hoping her son would not be treated unfairly or bullied because of the colour of his skin, Marran, said she was heartbroken and angry that a teacher had caused racial tension leading to her son to become depressed and not want to go to school.
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“The female teacher continues to victimise my child after he exposed her by telling the truth after he was questioned about her victimising another child who was ‘different.’ She has blatantly hurled racist remarks at my son, and also used racist remarks and profanity when she spoke with me during a meeting at the school about her conduct. I am concerned that my son is missing out on school as he is a high achiever academically. I also worry about him being depressed as he refuses to go to school and refuses to get out of bed. I hope that the issue is resolved so that no other child is treated differently or badly because of the colour of their skin. We should not be having to deal with racism after living together for so many years,” said Marran.
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