Teachers union SADTU in the Western Cape says it is deeply distressed by two incidents of alleged racism at two separate schools in the province.

In the most recent case, several learners at Pinelands High have been provisionally suspended after video emerged of them allegedly locking up black pupils in the school’s bicycle shed for what was termed a slave auction.

The school said in a circular to parents that the students will remain provisionally suspended pending the investigation by the school, and they have not ruled out further action.

The letter further stated:

“Our school has long grappled with the injustices of the past, and this incident serves as a poignant reminder of the critical importance of our ongoing conversations about race, privilege, bullying, social media pranks, and the impact of our words and actions in both the physical and digital world.”

The Western Cape Education Department says support and counseling has been offered to affected pupils. Director of Communications Bronagh Hammond says the pupils’ actions do not reflect the values and ethos of the relevant school or the department.

At Table View High School a few weeks ago, a substitute teacher allegedly used the k-word as part of a Grade 12 history lesson on black consciousness.

The WCED’s labour relations directorate is probing the matter and a visit to the school is scheduled for next week.

SADTU has called on the Western Cape education department to fully investigate both incidents.

The Union’s Western Cape Deputy Secretary General Kenneth Williams says it is completely unacceptable that racism persists after 30 years of the country’s democratic dispensation and during Mandela Month.

Such regressive behaviour undermines the collective aspirations of South Africans to build a non-racial, non-sexist, and inclusive society, as envisioned in our Constitution. Racism is a common place in “some” schools in the Western Cape and there is no commitment to root out this demon and relic of our painful past.

On the Table View matter, SADTU calls on the WCED to give the matter utmost priority.

Williams says the educator involved should have been placed on precautionary suspension.

We also call on the Western Cape Department of Education to implement diversity programs at Pinelands high school. Additionally, we ask all stakeholders to remain calm and allow the WCED to thoroughly investigate this serious issue.

The teacher union has further called on the Human Rights Commission to institute a wider investigation into racism at both schools.