A video of a white pupil strangling a black pupil at Welkom Technical High School in the Free State has sparked outrage and allegations of racism on social media.
The video which was filmed on Tuesday shows three pupils fighting in front of a female teacher. The white pupil is seen choking the black pupil, while the teacher stands by and watches. The black pupil eventually manages to free himself and fight back. The teacher then steps in and separates them.
The incident has been condemned by the Free State Department of Education, which said it was investigating the matter. The department said it condemned all forms of racism, violence, and bullying in its schools, and would take disciplinary action based on the findings of its probe.
The video has been widely shared on social media, with many users accusing the teacher of being biased and racist. Some have also questioned the school’s handling of the previous fight, which resulted in the five boys being punished with cleaning duties for three days.
Free State Education MEC Makalo Mohale said he was shocked and saddened by the violence and racism at the school. He said school safety was a societal issue that required the cooperation of all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, learners, and school governing bodies.
The department said it had sent officials to investigate the incident, and had provided psychosocial support to the three learners involved. The black pupil’s father has lodged an attempted murder case at Jan Hofmeyer Police Station and plans to take the school to court for failing to intervene in his son’s choking.
The principal met with the parents of the pupils on Wednesday and allegedly urged them to retract the case from the police and not involve the media.
In addition to the department’s investigation, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has also launched an investigation into the matter. The SAHRC said it was concerned about the allegations of racism and bullying, and would be interviewing all the relevant parties.
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