In 2020, the Black Lives Matter movement started gaining momentum. During this period, the elite Herschel Girls School in Cape Town came under fire for allegations against racism. The news was spread via the hashtag #YouSilenceWeAmplify on social media.
The group has since started an Instagram page which shared the following, amongst others, in June 2020. The account has continued to share other stories of racism across the country.
*Disclaimer: Names have been removed for privacy purposes by Cape {town} Etc. All posts are available on a public account: @yousilenceweamplify
Now, in 2021, a group of current and former pupils and parents are taking the claims to court.
Over the last year and a half, investigations were lunched. Advocate Nazreen Bawa SC, advocate Nick de Jager, and Werksmans Attorneys are the three forces behind the inquiry, reports News24.
According to the article, Bawa’s report resulted advocate Tracey Dicker and principal Heather Goedeke confirming that disciplinary action was instituted against two teachers at Herschel Girls. They were dismissed.
In a statement, the school says it is refraining from sharing legal reports with the public. Principal Goedeke said that she hopes that this will not undermine confidence in the school’s commitment to vigorously prioritise the implementation of the recommended systemic and institutional reforms.
However, the group of former and current students and parents (now speaking as the Association for Change at Herschel), don’t see this as justifiable and want the documents shared with the public. It is now allegedly using the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to try and force the school to publish all three reports.
Khanya Gubangxa, a former pupil and member of the Association says thats it’s “unfortunate” that Herschel Girls is placing its reputation and its rights above the protection and rights of children in its care.
The Association say that they want more action. They want “old guard” management and council members terminated as well.
The school said it will restructure its HR function in January 2022.
However, the back-and-forth between parties continues.
Herschel Girls School says it has implemented educational workshops and facilitated discussions around racism to up-skill teachers and students, but the Association says the school needs to put action behind its words.
Cape {town} Etc has reached out for comment from both Herschel Girls School and the Association for Change at Herschel and are pending a response.
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Picture: Herschel Girls School Facebook