Cape Town - New racism allegations have surfaced against Pinelands High School, as five learners are expected to attend a disciplinary hearing this week.
The southern suburbs school was thrust into the spotlight earlier this month, when videos surfaced on social media showing coloured pupils selling their black classmates in a mock slave auction.
Now, a former teacher has stepped forward to reveal this is not the first time racist incidents have been reported at the school.
Speaking to the Cape Argus just a week after two learners stepped forward to claim racist behaviour was exhibited by another former teacher, a source provided minutes of staff meetings where the actions of the teacher were noted.
The source, a former teacher who asked not to be named, claims the racism exhibited by learners was institutionalised as even the entry code to access the reception building was 1652 – the same year 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.
“It was later changed but no explanation was given as to why that would be the code in the first place.”
The former teacher said a colleague she worked with, accused by learners of using the k-word slur, was known for regularly making discriminatory comments that saw her insulting black children and religious practices by Muslim learners.
“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.
“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.
“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 former teacher explained.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond confirmed the gate code was initially 1652, but said it was changed.
“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.”
Hammond said the school did take disciplinary action against the former teacher 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.
“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 said five of the learners were facing a formal disciplinary hearing following the mock slave auction.
She said the department would not be initiating an independent investigation into claims of racism at the school, as undertaken by the Gauteng Education Department amid the suspension of 12 pupils at Pretoria High School for Girls following allegations of racism.
“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.
“We need to let this process proceed without interference, as per the requirements of the SA Schools Act,” said Hammond.