Siphiwe Dlamini
Recent events at Pinelands High School have sparked a heated debate and calls for immediate disciplinary action. Parents are demanding accountability following a distressing incident involving racial discrimination among students. The events are reminiscent of South Africa’s painful history, and they highlight ongoing challenges in achieving true non-racialism in schools.
At the center of this controversy is a group of Grade Eight students. According to reports, these students were involved in an incident that mimicked the auctioning of slaves. The mother of a 14-year-old student who narrowly escaped being “auctioned,” described the harrowing experience her son endured.
“When he got there, three boys tried to pick him up and put him in what we saw as a cage with other black boys in the cage and they were auctioning off the boys, the black boys. And unfortunately, it was a group of so-called colored boys who clearly don’t identify as black. My son, who has a political conscience, said you will not touch me.”
The situation escalated as an auction was staged, with black boys being sold to the highest bidders. Videos from the incident show how once a bid was made, the boys were removed from the cage and placed next to their so-called ‘owners.’
What happened last week at Pineland High School, Western Cape, in South Africa, was disturbing and traumatising.
A group of white and coloured student, possibly in view of their white teachers, placed several black children in cages, auctioning them for 100k South African Rand. pic.twitter.com/ZQq7iZ7Cno— Sahel Revolutionary Soldier (@cecild84) July 27, 2024
The implications of such actions have stirred significant concern, especially considering the broader context of South Africa’s struggle with racism. The incident at Pinelands High School raises critical questions about the progress of the country’s efforts towards building a non-racial society.
The mother highlighted that her son and other black students have been subjected to repeated racial abuse, which she had previously reported to the school authorities. She shared that her son had faced derogatory remarks such as being called “load shedding” upon entering the classroom.
“He has been subjected to name-calling, walking into the class, being called load shedding. The minute he walks in they shout load shedding, screaming to him that he is an n-bob, that he must eat chicken feet because he’s black.”
This incident has sparked a broader discussion on the measures in place to address racism in schools and the effectiveness of these measures. Parents and community members are calling for the school to take decisive action against those involved and to implement educational programs that promote understanding and respect among students.
The ongoing investigation into the incident is expected to shed more light on the events and potentially lead to necessary reforms. Meanwhile, the affected students and their families are seeking justice and reassurance that such incidents will not be tolerated.
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