Punish messengers of sham racism if investigation yields nothing
6 August 2025
Solidarity will closely watch the Gauteng Education Department's decision to interfere and to launch its own search for racism at Pretoria High School for Girls.
This follows the acquittal of 12 learners of the school by the governing body, whose disciplinary hearing found that the learners are innocent of charges of racism arising from conversations on a WhatsApp group in October 2023.
These WhatsApp conversations suddenly came to light in recent weeks and have received wide media coverage.
The 12 learners' suspension was lifted following the hearing, but the temporary 90 days suspension of the principal, Ms Phillipa Erasmus, because she is said to have ignored complaints regarding the very incident, apparently remains in force.