Racism and other forms of abuse in Western Cape schools are as a result of Debbie Schafer’s inaction
8 September 2016
The Western Cape ANCYL is concerned about the possible disruptions of matric trial exams scheduled to commence this week in the province. This is after noting the waves of protest against racial prejudices and other forms of abuse on leaners in province continue. We call on Debbie Schäfer as the MEC of Education in the province to ensure that all learners are protected from marginalization, abuse and humiliation at schools. If she is unable to do that then she must do the right thing and resign.
As early as 2014 the progressive youth alliance in the province through the Congress of South African Students (Cosas) had made calls to MEC Schäfer to reign on schools who ill-treated pupils under the pretence of enforcing rules in their codes of conduct. She was advised to coerce schools to review the codes of conduct to eliminate any elements that might lead to victimization of leaners and contravene their rights. Cosas continued to warn that failure to do so would result in a state of chaos in the province in the future.
Their warnings came after a number of pupils were victimized at various schools. Some of the cases they highlighted included Zintle Mguli who had a broken wrist after she was beaten by a teacher at Vuselela Primary, and Ammaar Watson, 14, from Belgravia High School who was chased away because of what the school called an exotic hairstyle.
Debbie Schäfer missed an opportunity to eliminate all forms of prejudices against learners in schools. It is for this reason that Western Cape ANCYL firmly believes the spate of protests in schools in the Western Cape are as a result of her inactivity and inaction. From last week learners at San Souci Girls High pupils protested and were joined by other pupils from other schools in the City. On (Tuesday) the 06 September 2016 chaos erupted in Joe Slovo High School when pupils protested against being fined for late coming. Holy Cross High School has admitted to fining pupils R10 (ten rands) for speaking Xhosa at the School, and there are allegations of other schools in the province that also fine learners for conversing in their mother tongues during school hours.
The Western Cape ANCYL believes that the only solution to school problems is through a review of all schools’ codes of conduct and not through a talk show called Racism Imbizo. We are encouraged by the recent pronouncements of the SAHRC that recent allegations of discrimination in some schools in the country are a chance for schools to review their codes of conduct.Our intention further is to lay a complaint with the SAHRC against Debbie Schafer to force her to implement a review of codes of conduct and ask for a thorough investigation into all the allegations of discrimination, racism and contravention of the pupils' rights at schools in the Western Cape.
Issued by Siyabulela Tom, AnCYL Provincial Spokesperson: Western Cape, 8 September 2016
