The Gauteng Department of Education has suspended a matric learner from Pretoria High School for Girls, after she was seen making statements with racial undertones in a video that has since gone viral on social media.
According to the Department, the learner was recorded in a video in February 2024, making statements suspected to have racial undertones.
“The School Governing Body (SGB) suspended the learner today, and it will subsequently initiate a formal disciplinary process in due course.
“The Gauteng Department of Education is firmly committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all learners.
“We take incidents of this nature very seriously and will ensure that appropriate actions are taken to address and resolve the situation,” said the Department spokesperson, Steve Mabona.
The learner’ suspension comes a day after the school principal, Phillipa Erasmus, was placed on a three-month precautionary suspension, after she allegedly failed to act on racial concerns made against black learners by white learners.
The school made headlines after racism allegations were levelled against 12 of its white learners, who reportedly made racial comments against black learners on a white-only WhatsApp group chat.
The learners have since been suspended, pending a disciplinary hearing.
Erasmus suspension was announced by Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, following his visit to the school where he interacted with the SGB and SMT regarding the incident.
The recent events were met with mixed emotions as many South Africans expressed concern and dismay, given that the school was embroiled in a hair policy scandal back in 2016.
Some applauded the department’s intervention, while others called for a harsher penalty against Erasmus, who is also accused of dragging her feet to deal with racism complaints at the school.
In addition, Chiloane highlighted that a diversity and social cohesion programme will be established.
“We encourage learners and teachers not to tire from reporting any ill-discipline or transgressions against the school code of conduct.Educators need to always assist us to develop learners in our schooling environments,’’ emphasised Chiloane.
With the negative attention the school has garnered on this sensitive matter, the department appealed to activists and civil groups to avoid demonstrations outside the school during the exam period.
