Nkhensani Chauke
The Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane will be launching an independent investigation into Pretoria High School for Girls (PHSG) to determine whether a culture of racism exists at the school.
The probe follows the lifting of the suspension of twelve Grade 12 learners who were charged with acts of racism and subsequently found not guilty by the School Governing Body (SGB) and returned to school.
According to the report outlining the charges and ruling, the SGB found the implicated learners not guilty of the charges of violence and bullying, disruptive behaviour and violation of school rules due to insufficient evidence.
However, the GDE wasn’t satisfied with the outcome of the hearing and spokesperson Steve Mabona said the MEC has launched the investigation to determine if the culture of racism exists at the school. The investigation will focus on the suspensions of allegations of racism which were not included in the initial disciplinary process by the school, he said.
The MEC will institute the investigations looking at the allegations of racism in the entire school community, said Mabona. “This probe that the MEC has decided to pursue will not investigate the 12 learners but rather the allegations that racism exists at the school”.
The spokesperson said the department received the report on Friday and took legal advice to check the elements of the allegations.
The department said it respects the outcome of the SGB ruling since it is empowered by law to initiate and facilitate disciplinary hearings against learners.
“We did receive that report and took legal advice on it to check on what are its elements. They investigated allegations of violence and bullying. We are aware that there are allegations of racism at school. We need to independently investigate these allegations,” he said.
Mabona said 12 pupils were suspended for statements made in a white only WhatsApp group that had racial connotations and displayed microaggressions.
The school principal Phillipa Erasmus remains suspended for not acting against racism at the school.
The department says it will unveil a diversity program at the school focusing on the parents body, learners and employees.
INSIDE EDUCATION
