Hoërskool Rustenburg probes pupils’ Nazi salute during school karaoke

North West education department officials will be visiting Hoërskool Rustenburg on Tuesday to probe an incident in which four pupils allegedly gave the Nazi salute during the singing of a German World War 2 song. The province’s education spokesperson Elias Malindi said a detailed response will be given after their investigation is concluded.

In a TikTok video that has gone viral, four of a group of six matric pupils, all of whom are prefects and can seemingly speak German, can be seen on stage raising an outstretched right arm reminiscent of the Heil Hitler signal salute that was used to pay homage to Adolf Hitler.

The German dictator, one of the most reviled figures in history, orchestrated the deaths of an estimated 6-million Jews during the Holocaust in World War 2, between 1941 and 1945.

Sunday Times Daily was told that the incident took place during the school’s academic week last Wednesday.

The governing body is not only concerned about the damage to the school’s reputation but also about the lack of awareness around social issues that this incident has brought to light.

—  Bernhard Visser, chair of Hoërskool Rustenburg’s SGB 

As part of the activities organised by the academic council, a karaoke competition was held at which pupils had to sing songs during the lunch break.

A request was made by some pupils sitting close to the stage for a pupil to sing a German song.

One of the pupils sang the song, Erika, arguably the best-known song of the Wehrmacht or German armed forces.

In the video clip, other pupils, who were not on stage, can be seen mimicking the actions of those giving the salute.

A source said the implicated pupils completed their primary schooling at a German school where all subjects in grade one and two were in German.

A total of 20 pupils from grades 10 to 12 are studying German at Hoërskool Rustenburg.

The source said: “When they sang that German song, someone picked up their hands like Hitler and that was the wrong thing.”

Members of the school’s management viewed the video on Friday night.

Sunday Times Daily has reliably learnt that the pupils accused of giving the salute, who were the school’s top academic achievers, had apologised to the management on Monday.

The pupils are also expected to make an apology to the whole school community this week.

A medical student from Wits University, whose younger brother showed her the video, said she was “absolutely  disgusted” that this was allowed to happen.

In an email to the school, she asked: “Are bigots allowed to lead the student body at Rustenburg High? Racism has no place in our society, a lesson that I would have thought the students at your school are educated on, given SA’s violent and racially segregated history.” 

She told the school it was their responsibility “to do better and produce young people who are going to make our country a better place”.

“I hope you attempt to educate those boys. Racism is a disgusting sickness that seems to have infected your school and its students.”

Tzvi Brivik, chair of the Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies, said they were “deeply disturbed” by the TikTok video.

“Six million Jews perished under Hitler’s rule, alongside anyone else considered impure, including people of colour, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people with disabilities.

“Using this salute is not only deeply offensive to our community, but is also reminiscent of the atrocities committed under Nazi rule.”

He said they would be engaging with leadership of the school to urgently take action against “this hateful display and to educate its students on the consequences of prejudice and apathy”.

“Under our constitutional dispensation, democracy and the protection of human rights such as human dignity, freedom and equality, are paramount. We all have the right to live in an environment free from racism and discrimination, where people committing hateful acts are held accountable.”

The chair of Hoërskool Rustenburg’s governing body, Bernhard Visser, said in a statement that urgent and decisive steps would be taken against the pupils who gave the Nazi salute.

“The governing body views the incident in a very serious light.”

He confirmed that the pupils were taking part in a karaoke competition.

He said the governing body acted immediately after the incident came to its attention.

“A disciplinary investigation is already under way. The pupils were identified and their parents have been informed.”

He said the North West education department would be informed of the incident and the investigation and the resultant decisions. 

“The governing body is not only concerned about the damage to the school’s reputation but also about the lack of awareness around social issues that this incident has brought to light.”

He said the governing body had started to plan a programme to increase awareness about discrimination and its extent and impact.

“It is important that pupils’ behaviour, inside and outside the school, is based on proper decision-making. The SGB will therefore do everything within its power to establish a school environment where pupils are taught to engage with sensitivity and understanding regarding symbols and acts representative of some of the biggest crimes against humanity.”