The KwaZulu-Natal department of education is to investigate a complaint of alleged racism by a black hockey player against his school coach.
The 13-year-old Vryheid High pupil was furious that coach Jannie Fourie, referring to him, had asked a fellow pupil, "Where's your black friend?" when he missed a practice.
The Grade 8 pupil, who has provincial hockey colours, was so incensed he has since refused to play the sport.
He played in the U-13 division at the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands championships last year against pupils from the rest of the country.
His mother, a nurse, is now trying to find another school for her son after a teacher refused him permission to use a toilet on the day she lodged the complaint with the principal.
When she initially complained to Fourie, who is also the school's deputy principal, he and a department head told her the remark "Where's your black friend?" was not racist.
The mother has claimed Fourie admitted to not knowing the pupils' names - so he called them "black boy", "coloured boy" or "Indian boy".
"They were so arrogant," she said. "They even asked how do I want them to call my child. I don't want my child to be referred to by his skin colour. He has a name. I've been trying to convince my son to start hockey again but he said, 'No mamma, I can't go back.'"
Fourie declined to comment and referred the Sunday Times to the school governing body and the education department.
Principal Anton le Roux refused to speak to the Sunday Times and failed to respond to an SMS requesting comment.
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