By Doreen Mokgolo
Twelve white learners from Pretoria High School for Girls have been suspended for their alleged racist behaviour.
The school told the Gauteng Education Department’s Tshwane South District last Thursday about a planned protest by some black learners set for Friday, 19 July.
The protest was because of racist comments shared in a WhatsApp group of white learners.
Steve Mabona, the spokesperson for the Gauteng Education Department, said the group chats included racist remarks that dismissed the concerns of black learners as unimportant.
The chats also labelled the 2016 black hair protest at the school as unimportant.
A meeting was held on the same day as the planned protest, allowing the upset learners to speak out.
They reported repeated examples of racism with little to no action taken by the school principal.
They also complained about bullying incidents not being addressed and claimed white learners got better treatment from the principal and some staff members.
They also said the school’s rules were applied more harshly to black learners than to white learners.
The school governing body suspended all the involved learners. Their disciplinary hearings are scheduled for 30 and 31 July.
The district has launched an investigation into all the allegations.
Gauteng Education Department MEC Matome Chiloane said that school environments where racism exists take away the right to education in a safe and fair environment for all learners.
Pictured above: Pretoria High School for Girls.
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