As five Pinelands High School learners are expected to attend a disciplinary hearing this week, new allegations have been levelled against the high school, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Earlier this month, videos surfaced on social media surfaced that showed coloured pupils selling their black classmates in a ‘mock slave auction’, as reported by IOL.
Also read: Pinelands High learners suspended after ‘auctioning’ black classmates
A former teacher, who wanted to remain anonymous, has stepped forward to reveal that this was ‘not the first time’ that racist incidents have been reported at the school.
The teacher, in an interview with the Cape Argus just a week after two learners stepped forward to claim that another former teacher had exhibited racist behaviour, provided minutes of staff meetings where ‘the actions of the teacher’ were noted.
The teacher claimed that the racism exhibited by the learners was ‘institutionalised’, as ‘even the entry code’ to gain access to the reception building was 1652.
The code is the same year that Jan van Riebeeck and Dutch settlers arrived in Cape Town.
‘I started there in 2015 and was given the code ‘1652’ to enter through a gate leading to the reception area,’ said the teacher.
‘It was later changed but no explanation was given as to why that would be the code in the first place,’ the teacher added.
The teacher alleged that a colleague they worked with was known for making ‘discriminatory comments’ that saw her insulting black children and religious practices by Muslim learners.
The colleague was also accused by learners of using the racist k-word slur.
‘The white female teacher referred to by students in a recent article was employed by the school governing body and not the Western Cape Education Department [WCED]. The same teacher asked a black male student if he needed a tennis racket to fix his hair in front of a class. During a maths lesson, the same teacher said that Robben Island was built in the middle of the ocean because black people can’t swim,’ the teacher stated.
‘She was responding to a black male student who said he had lost his maths book in the canal close to school. She said she wasn’t surprised as black people can’t swim […] During the Holy Month of Ramadaan, she told her class that she doesn’t understand how Muslims first become friends with the lamb and then kill it and eat it after some time. She regularly made inappropriate comments with no repercussions. Students also reported that she used the k-word in class,’ the teacher added.
‘The code was changed seven years ago as part of the school’s ongoing transformation work under the previous principal’s guidance. It had been set before the previous principal was appointed,’ said Hammond.
Hammond said the school did take disciplinary action against the former teacher who was accused of making racist remarks.
‘The teacher referred to was employed by the SGB before the previous principal was appointed. The teacher is no longer employed at the school […] The school was made aware of alleged racist comments made by the teacher. She faced a disciplinary hearing in 2021 and is no longer employed by the school,’ said Hammond.
‘There is, however, no evidence on file that the k-word was used. However, other comments were discriminatory, and disciplinary action followed. It was with regards to the Robben Island remarks,’ Hammond added.
In addition, Hammond said that the WCED would ‘not be initiating an independent investigation’ into claims of racism at the school.
‘The WCED is not initiating an independent investigation – as there has been no reason to do so […] The school is complying with the relevant legislation and the disciplinary process is ongoing,’ said Hammond.
‘We need to let this process proceed without interference, as per the requirements of the SA Schools Act,’ Hammond added.
Also read:
EFF threatens to shut down Pinelands High after ‘slave sale’ video
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