Racist schools face the cane

An SA Human Rights Commission investigation into racism at schools is on the cards in the wake of an increasing number of cases reported across the country.

In an incident late last week, a teacher at a school in Witbank, Mpumalanga, allegedly swore at a parent over the phone.

For nearly a year, Busisiwe Mokoena's daughter had complained of physical, verbal and emotional abuse at her new school.

But a call to the school on Thursday turned ugly for the concerned mother when the head of Grade 9, she said, lost his temper and insulted her. In a recording sent to The Times, a man is heard shouting at Mokoena, 39: "I said f**k you. Don't you understand? F**k! F**k you."

He goes on to tell the mother that she is stupid for "wasting" her airtime and calls her a "baboon".

Mokoena's 17-year-old daughter, a Grade 11 pupil, started attending Reynopark High School last year after the family moved from Cape Town.

She said her daughter started complaining of mistreatment by teachers a few months into her Grade 10 academic year.

But the girl seems not to be the only victim of abuse at Reynopark, at which more than 90% of the pupils are black. The pupil said she had witnessed incidents of corporal punishment and verbal abuse against her schoolmates.

"Some of the teachers call us names, such as k****r, bitch, slut and baboon - it is somewhat of a norm, and that is wrong," she said.

"The principal's wife told me I'm useless and worthless, and I will not amount to anything in life."

She said the principal throttled a male classmate in front of the class last year because of the colour of his jacket.

Parents and pupils are this morning expected to stage a protest to demand the removal of the principal, his wife, and the head of Grade 9.

Complaints of misconduct against staff members include:

Teachers drinking during school hours or coming to work drunk;

A teacher seen smoking dagga during school hours; and

Corporal punishment being meted out to pupils.

The Times has established that a case of assault was opened against the principal, Wolla Ras, last year after he allegedly slapped a pupil.

Witbank police confirmed that Ras appeared in court last year. They are still investigating the allegation.

Human Rights Commission spokesman Isaac Mangena said the commission was considering a national investigation into racism at public and private schools.

He said the commission was worried by the complaints it had received, especially those implicating teachers.

"Complaints have been made in Mpumalanga, Western Cape and the Free State," said Mangena.

"It's unacceptable that teachers, who are put in charge of children in the absence of parents, would behave in such a way."

He suggested that the Department of Basic Education look into allegations of racism.

Spokesman for the SA Council for Educators Thembinkosi Ndhlovu said it was time racism at schools was tackled "head-on".

He appealed to pupils and parents affected by racist incidents to report them to authorities.

"These teachers are bringing the profession into disrepute," said Ndhlovu.

Sergeant David Ratau, of the Witbank police, said Reynopark High School was a "headache" for the police.

"It's like the children have given up on life and believe what they are told by teachers, no matter how hard we try to encourage them and tell them otherwise," Ratau said.

Busisiwe Mokoena accused the education department's circuit manager of concealing pupil abuse by failing to deal with her grievances last year.

In a letter seen by The Times, Mokoena says the principal's wife called black pupils insulting names, and the principal subjected them to physical abuse.

The Times is also in possession of an e-mail in which the circuit manager confirms receiving Mokoena's complaint on May 26.

Mpumalanga education department spokesman Jasper Zwane could not confirm that the department was aware of the complaint made by Mokoena. But he said the department would investigate the allegations.

"We condemn incidents [in which] parents aren't afforded respect by schools. We also have incidents of parents who do not co-operate with schools," said Zwane.

"The relationship between parents and teachers [should be one of] co-operation, which enhances teaching."