North West Premier Thandi Modise has called on the Human Rights Commission to investigate an incident in which a 17 year old Brits school girl was turned away from hockey trials in Rustenburg because she is black.
“It’s an affront to our democracy and to the strides that the country has made towards reconciliation and nation-building that exclusive sporting events organised along racial lines are still practiced in this day and age and that racial jamborees involving children in our education system are organised under the guise of cultural sport,” Premier Modise said on Wednesday.
The Premier was responding to a statement ascribed to CEO of Afrikaner Volkseie Sport, Rev. Peter Stans to the effect that Rego Modise had not been invited for the trials, which were for "Afrikaner" children only and by invitation.
Although the Grade 11 pupil at Wagpos Hoerskool alleged that she had persuaded her parents to drive her to Hoërskool Grenswag for Bokkie Week trials after getting approval from her coach, the school principal, Daan Neethling denied that his pupils were sent by staff to the trials.
“If children go to these trials, they go on their own, without endorsement from our school,” he is reported to have said that his school doesn’t even recognise achievements at Bokkie Week anymore.
Rego had allegedly registered and paid a R30 fee on arrival, but was later told the trials were for white pupils only. According to media reports, Stans had said that no player of a different race had ever attended Bokkie Week.
The Premier said that the Provincial department of Education would need to advise her whether it is justifiable for children from registered public schools to participate in such sporting events.
MEC for Education, Louisa Mabe confirmed that her department has constituted a task team to investigate the incident.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 086 620 4802
E-mail: lkgwele@nwpg.gov.za
Premier Modise calls on Human Rights Commission to investigate exclusion of Brits learner from Bokkie Week
Province
