ANC Calls for Urgent Action on Racism After Disturbing Incident at Western Cape School

The African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape has called for sustained open dialogues on racism following a shocking incident at Pinelands High School. The controversy erupted when pupils were filmed auctioning their Black classmates in a mock 'slave auction.'

The Western Cape Education Department has described the video as deeply hurtful and confirmed that an investigation is underway. The students involved have been placed on precautionary suspension, although the specifics of this suspension remain unclear.

Khalid Sayed, ANC spokesperson in the Western Cape, expressed profound disgust and distrubance over the incident and welcomed the school's immediate action. However, he voiced significant concern about the persistence of such incidents in the region. Sayed highlighted similar occurrences, including a recent incident where a student teacher used a racial slur known as the "K word" against a learner and other previous reports of racial bullying at Brackenfell High School.

Sayed emphasised that these incidents reveal that racism is deeply entrenched in the Western Cape society. He urged a comprehensive approach to address and eradicate racial prejudice, calling on Premier Alan Winde and the Western Cape Cabinet to engage in anti-racism dialogues to address and rectify the underlying issues contributing to these incidents. He emphasised that racism is perpetuated by societal and familial influences, requiring a broader community effort to eradicate it.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), the ruling party in the Western Cape, has not yet issued a statement on the matter. Meanwhile, the school and the Department of Education have condemned the incident, and are actively addressing the issue, with one parent also speaking out against the racial discrimination.

The ANC's call for action underscores the necessity of a coordinated effort to address racism both in schools and the broader community. They urge all sectors, including politics and education, to play a role in driving significant change. Sayed criticised the current state of education, noting that former "level C" schools have operated in isolation for too long. He advocates for a more unified strategy to combat racism, stressing the importance of collaboration among politics, parents, and communities to effectively tackle racial prejudice.