Pretoria High School for Girls has suspended 12 pupils for racism allegations. (Shandukani Mulaudzi/City Press)
- Twelve Pretoria High School for Girls pupils were found not guilty of racism allegations.
- A three-member panel convened the disciplinary hearing, chaired by an advocate who was a co-opted member of the school governing body.Â
- Acting principal Danica Stoffberg said the process was fair and transparent.Â
Twelve white Pretoria High School for Girls pupils, who were suspended for alleged racism, including eight prefects, were found not guilty after a disciplinary hearing.
Acting principal Danica Stoffberg told the school community in a letter on Friday that the outcome included “their prefect status”.
She said a three-member panel convened the disciplinary hearing, which an advocate, a co-opted member of the school governing body, chaired.
“We believe this process has been conducted in fairness and transparency. Coming out of this process, there are lessons for all of us. Let us work together to create an environment where teaching and learning can continue, and every learner feels valued and empowered to succeed.”
Reacting to the outcome of the disciplinary hearing, Gauteng education department spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department was “quite disappointed” at the way the school treated it.
“They know this matter has been in the public space and we don’t even have an official report on the outcome of the disciplinary process. Our problem is why would you not be given a report.”
He said they would await the official report and then “pave a way forward”.
The suspension of the 12 white pupils took place after a protest by a group of pupils was planned for 19 July, which was triggered by “alleged racial connotations, micro-aggressions and complaints about black learners which were ventilated through a WhatsApp group comprised of white learners”.
On Tuesday, the department put the principal, Phillipa Erasmus, on precautionary suspension for 90 days, pending an investigation into allegations that pupils’ complaints to her were ignored.
Her suspension was announced during Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane’s visit to the school on Tuesday.
Pupils who had previously spoken to New24 said they were extremely disappointed by the decision to bring the 12 pupils back and believed that they should have been found guilty.
One of the pupils said the situation at school was very tense.
“I thought the headmistress understood how the girls and parents felt about the situation and understood that we disagree with this. Many are surprised and mad, and they are also disappointed.”
She added that they had provided evidence and felt the situation “cannot be swept under the rug just like that”.
The black pupils had claimed there was a WhatsApp group created by, and consisting only of, white pupils, where alleged racial micro-aggressions were channelled about black pupils, which prompted them to hold a protest on Mandela Day.
Another pupil echoed the same sentiments.
“I don’t think it’s fair because we went through the code of conduct, and racism is an expulsion,” she said.
“I feel angry and upset because now I feel like the strike and the EFF coming here was pointless. Those girls were proven not guilty on all charges, meaning they will come back and, at the end of the day, they are still prefects.”
She believed the situation was unfair.
In a separate incident, the department announced on Wednesday that a black pupil was suspended after she was seen making statements, with alleged racial undertones, in a video that went viral on social media.
Mabona confirmed the matric pupil was recorded in a video in February 2024.
“This video has recently gone viral on social media, prompting serious concerns.”
Mabona said the school governing body suspended the pupil and would initiate a disciplinary process in due course.
Prega Govender
www.news24.com
