Parents blame Bryanston school for 'failing to handle racism incident'

The parents of two black Grade 5 pupils from Bryandale Primary School in Bryanston, Johannesburg, who were allegedly racially abused by a Grade 6 Indian pupil, believe the school could have handled the incident better. 

This was after the Indian child allegedly told two African children that: “You stupid black people are so predictable,” while they were playing at the school gate. 

One parent said his child told him about the incident, while the other father only found out when his child told him that he was forced to write a report at the school about the incident.

The children were playing at the school gate when a Grade 6 pupil asked them if they could catch the coin.

One of the fathers said his child said he could try, and the elder child tossed the coin in the air, and when the boy didn't catch it, he said: “You stupid black people are so predictable.”

One of the victims reported the incident to the teacher and the three children were called to the deputy principal's office to recount the story.

“He denied that he said the racist comment,” said the victim's father, indicating the children were told to write down what happened.

One of the parents said he was concerned they had not been contacted about the incident. 

“Furthermore, the school is not being direct about what will be done about this incident, and it is not the first racist incident either,” he said.

The issue we have is that if black parents' concerns are treated like this, how many concerns are being treated like this, and other people just accept it?

—  Parent of pupil

He said he only found out about the incident a week later when his son complained he was made to write a statement. He said when he went to the school, they told him that they were going to email him and were surprised that their son had not told him.

“They didn't divulge until I got upset, and they told me that the consequence is that [the alleged perpetrator] would miss his school tour. That seems to be the only consequence, which is laughable and is just sweeping this under the carpet and encouraging this racist behaviour to continue,” he said. 

The parent of another pupil said he sent an email to the school complaining about racist remarks and told the school to investigate. When he followed up a week later he was told the school was investigating.

“Then they just came to me and said we're dealing with this kid. We have put all the necessary disciplinary measures [in place]. Then I said, 'but that's not good enough. The kid cannot be racist to my kid, and then you just tell me you're dealing with the kid, give me details,' and they said, as per the code of conduct, we are not obligated to give you the details,” he said. 

He said the problem was that his child was abused, and the school brushed it off and told him to “deal with it” when he asked for more information. He did not know what happened to the alleged perpetrator, as the school told him they could not tell him, as the code of conduct did not allow them to. His son has not had a problem at the school, and this was an isolated incident, he added.

“The issue we have is that if black parents' concerns are treated like this, how many concerns are being treated like this, and other people just accept it?

“They need to do better in a racist incident. I would have been happy if they called us, both the victims' parents and the parents of the other boy, and we all discussed it.”

The Gauteng department of education said it was aware of and concerned about the allegation of racism which took place on May 28.

“Officials were dispatched to the school to establish the facts about the allegations and the outcome will determine the action to be taken,” Gauteng department education spokesperson Steve Mabona said.