SAHRC ‘deeply disappointed’ over Brackenfell violence

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has become the latest to react to the unrest which broke out at Brackenfell High School just recently.

The Cape Town school was the scene of chaos on Monday, 9 November 2020, as members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) clashed with parents over a supposedly racist incident. It is alleged that white pupils at the school had privately planned a party for matric students, as a matric dance would not be held.

The non-white students were reportedly not invited to the event, which prompted concerns of racial divisions in that school.

The SAHRC has condemned the incident and further expressed disappointment.

“The Commission is deeply disappointed by the violence as well as the allegations that preceded it. The SAHRC is shocked to learn that in this day and age a racially segregated private event was held for matric learners from the school. More disappointingly, is the fact that this event was attended by their parents and two teachers from the school,” SAHRC spokesperson Gushwell Brooks said in a statement.

Brooks has further condemned the alleged holding of ‘whites-only’ events.

“No one should be allowed to bring back racial segregation to this country. The deep racial divisions of South Africa’s apartheid and colonial past cannot be healed whilst children are socialised separately on the basis of race and thus, as a nation, we will never be able to forge a South Africa where all are equal, free and are treated with dignity,” he further said.

SAHRC: Teachers involved in ‘all-white’ party must be probed

Like many who have weighed in on the incident, the SAHRC has also taken note of the fact that the violence occurs during a critical time for the learners – when they sit down for their final National Senior Certificate Examinations (NSC).

Video clips and images have been doing the rounds on social media, showing EFF members and counter demonstrators, assaulting each other.

“The Commission has on numerous occasions called on communities to exercise their right to protest within Constitutional and legal limits, peacefully and unarmed. The conduct seen on television of one of the men repeatedly beating with a stick a Black woman in EFF uniform, is beyond shocking and we urge the police to trace the man and charge him, among others, with assault”

The SAHRC has further called for a swift investigation into the two educators who attended the event.