- Racist incident at Pinelands High School involves a mock “slave auction.”
- Video of the incident went viral, sparking outrage and calls for suspension of involved students.
- This follows a similar racism controversy at Table View Primary School.
- The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is under fire for its handling of these incidents.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is facing increased scrutiny following a racist incident at Pinelands High School where students conducted a mock “slave auction.”
Pinelands High School ‘slave auction’ exposed
A disturbing video has surfaced online showing grade eight students at Pinelands High School in Cape Town conducting a mock “slave auction,” where black pupils were locked in a cage and “sold” to the highest bidder.
The viral video, which cannot be shown due to the exposed faces of minors, sparked immediate outrage from parents and the community.
The video shows black students held in a caged area, with an “auctioneer” starting the bidding at R100,000, while other students, mostly coloured, enthusiastically called out bids, with some going as high as R200 million.
One parent expressed their disgust, stating:
“It is appalling and we should not tolerate this level of intolerance.”
The calls for the suspension of the involved students have amplified, with many demanding immediate action.
This is not the first ‘racist’ incident at a Cape Town school this year
The Pinelands High School incident comes on the heels of another controversy involving Table View Primary School, where a substitute teacher allegedly called black students derogatory names, including “k***irs.”
A parent of one of the affected students, Loyiso Mfubesi, expressed outrage over the teacher’s actions and the school’s handling of the incident.
“It is beyond disgusting and disappointing that the same person who was reported for the crime against humanity was allowed to enter a classroom full of the same black children she abused,” the parent wrote.
The WCED issued a generic statement, noting that racism is not tolerated and that the incident was under investigation.
This response was criticised for being inadequate and failing to address the severity of the issue.
WCED under scrutiny over handling of racism at Cape Town schools
Following the Pinelands High School ‘slave auction’ scandal, the WCED has come under fire for its handling of racism in schools.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) has called for stronger action.
Sadtu Secretary-General Mugwena Maluleke stated:
“As a community, we need to stand together and build a united nation so we can prosper.”
He agreed with parents that the students involved should be suspended to allow for a thorough investigation.
The WCED, in response to the Pinelands incident, stated that they were disturbed by the event and had conducted interviews with the students involved.
However, this has done little to quell the outrage, as many feel the department’s actions have been insufficient in addressing the root causes of racism in schools.
The investigation into the Pinelands High School incident continues, with the community eagerly awaiting more concrete steps from the education authorities.