gymnasium alleged racial attack
27 March 2007
It is with deep concern that the top management of the Western Cape
Education Department (WCED) have noted various media reports and viewed a
cellphone video clip, which captured an alleged racial, violent and unsolicited
assault between two learners in one of our schools. From what appears on the
video clip, one learner assaulted another learner in the classroom with the
full knowledge of some of his classmates, one of which recorded the incident
and distributed it.
It further appears from the clip that the teacher was present and in full
view of the incident which occurred in the classroom. From the teacher's
actions it appears that he did little or nothing to intervene in order to stop
the fight. The teacher in question has been quoted in a local newspaper as
saying he was afraid that he would get hurt.
The WCED has received a formal complaint from the parent of the victim and
will be launching a full-scale investigation into the incident and specifically
on:
* What the reasons are on why the classroom teacher failed to intervene in
order to stop the fight and/or what steps he took to intervene, if not, why
not?
* Whether the incident was brought under the attention of the principal, if so,
what steps he took to manage the matter satisfactorily and/or to administer the
necessary discipline at the school.?
* Whether the principal, the teacher or any other person gave false statements
to the department and the media in the execution of his or her duties.
* To establish the motive for the attack and
* Any other issues relevant to the investigation.
Depending on the findings of the initial report which is expected by no
later than next week, the WCED may consider further steps against the teacher
and principal. Violence in our schools is a serious issue and we would like to
get to the bottom of this matter. We are conducting this investigation in the
context of Minister Naledi Pandor's request for Provincial Education
Departments to look into the culture of our schools, especially former model-C
schools. The Minister has taken an interest in this matter and has asked WCED
for a full report on the above incident at the Langenhoven Gymnasium High
School in Oudtshoorn.
The incident comes at the very same time when an inquiry is under way in the
West Coast to investigate and offer recommendations on various issues in
schools in the Saldanha municipal area, which includes allegations of racism.
The Task Team was established and was invited by the community of Laingville in
St Helena Bay earlier, to hear complaints of school-going children not
attending school at the beginning of this year.
For enquiries, contact:
Gert Witbooi
Cell: 082 550 3938
E-mail: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
27 March 2007
