A HIGH school is embroiled in a racism storm after a 14-year-old pupil was disciplined twice for calling black pupils by the "k" word.
The provincial department of education said it was aware of the matter and had previously taken disciplinary steps against the pupil.
Spokeswoman Phumla Sekhonyane said in another instance, the Boksburg High School pupil in Ekurhuleni was found guilty of using offensive and derogatory language and was given a written warning.
She said she was concerned the pupil was facing similar charges again. Sekhonyane said a disciplinary hearing had been set for today.
"The department will await the outcome of this disciplinary hearing before taking any action on this matter," she said.
According to pupils at the school, the girl is a bully who does not get along with black pupils.
"At one stage me and my friend were walking in front of her. She then hit my friend at the back and when I asked her why she turned violent and swore at me, calling me a stupid ka***r," a Grade 8 pupil told Sowetan this week.
The mother of one of the pupils who previously laid a complaint against the girl accused the school of being too lenient. This was after the girl was suspended for one week after being found guilty of using derogatory and offensive language again.
"During the hearing, there was no sense of remorse from the learner and the people who were handling the matter did not show any seriousness," said the mother.
Boksburg High School principal Jan du Plessis confirmed the incidents and said they were dealing with the matter.
"After a parent lodged the first complaint with the school and the SA Human Rights Commission, we handled everything well," said Du Plessis. "At first the girl said she lost her temper, which led to her calling the other student by the k-word. We are dealing with another case and we will have a hearing during the week. We will put an end to this for good."
SAHRC spokesman Isaac Mangena said calling another person by the k-word amounted to hate speech and constitutes clear violation of both right to equality and right to human dignity of the other person.
Mangena said they had not heard of the incident but condemn such abuse of other pupils.
ndlovus@sowetan.co.za
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
Girl faces third race charge
A HIGH school is embroiled in a racism storm after a 14-year-old pupil was disciplined twice for calling black pupils by the "k" word.
The provincial department of education said it was aware of the matter and had previously taken disciplinary steps against the pupil.
Spokeswoman Phumla Sekhonyane said in another instance, the Boksburg High School pupil in Ekurhuleni was found guilty of using offensive and derogatory language and was given a written warning.
She said she was concerned the pupil was facing similar charges again. Sekhonyane said a disciplinary hearing had been set for today.
"The department will await the outcome of this disciplinary hearing before taking any action on this matter," she said.
According to pupils at the school, the girl is a bully who does not get along with black pupils.
"At one stage me and my friend were walking in front of her. She then hit my friend at the back and when I asked her why she turned violent and swore at me, calling me a stupid ka***r," a Grade 8 pupil told Sowetan this week.
The mother of one of the pupils who previously laid a complaint against the girl accused the school of being too lenient. This was after the girl was suspended for one week after being found guilty of using derogatory and offensive language again.
"During the hearing, there was no sense of remorse from the learner and the people who were handling the matter did not show any seriousness," said the mother.
Boksburg High School principal Jan du Plessis confirmed the incidents and said they were dealing with the matter.
"After a parent lodged the first complaint with the school and the SA Human Rights Commission, we handled everything well," said Du Plessis. "At first the girl said she lost her temper, which led to her calling the other student by the k-word. We are dealing with another case and we will have a hearing during the week. We will put an end to this for good."
SAHRC spokesman Isaac Mangena said calling another person by the k-word amounted to hate speech and constitutes clear violation of both right to equality and right to human dignity of the other person.
Mangena said they had not heard of the incident but condemn such abuse of other pupils.
ndlovus@sowetan.co.za
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
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