Watch: Punches fly as EFF protesters clash with parents in Brackenfell

An almighty row has erupted outside of Brackenfell High School in the Western Cape on Monday, as the outrage over alleged racism at the facility boiled over in dramatic fashion. EFF protesters and a group of parents ended up in a fist-fight, as rocks were thrown and violent exchanges spiralled out of control.

Why is the EFF protesting at Brackenfell High School?

The police eventually moved in to ease the situation, but anger is at fever pitch this afternoon. The EFF is frustrated with a private event that was organised by a group within the school, attended by a white-only guestlist. This has prompted the political party and their local structures to label Brackenfell High School as ‘racist’.

However, the institution has hit back, saying that the organised event was private and had ‘nothing to do with the school’. The two teachers who attended the matric-inspired gathering were, apparently, only there as family friends – they deny that this was an official dance endorsed by Brackenfell High. The fallout since has been nuclear:

Watch: Parents fight EFF protesters in Brackenfell

Hulle is by di laerskool nou di laerskool onner lockdown di kinders is veilig #brackenfellhighprotest @SABCNews @ewnupdates @etvNewsSA @BOSBEER2006 pic.twitter.com/JUKms6sh8C

— SA emergency reports (@MARIUSBROODRYK) November 9, 2020

EFF mag die wat hulle wil. #brackenfell pic.twitter.com/kj0cjKuu0x

— Heinrich Otto (@HeinrichOtto12) November 9, 2020

Brackenfell Update : Community fighting with EFF members
POPS have separated the 2 groups.
1 person has been arrested for public violence.@1SecondLater #1Second #BrackenfellHigh @BOSBEER2006 @MARIUSBROODRYK @BokRadio @VOCfm @allcapetown @WCGovSafelyHome @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/uA9LiSfyLV

— 1Second (@1SecondLater) November 9, 2020

Western Cape school in alleged ‘racism’ incident

This was the EFF’s second protest outside of Brackenfell High School, after showing up last week. Their appearance on the scene comes as students finally sit their matric exams, in the most extraordinary of all years for our learners.

Parents who clashed with the Red Berets were reportedly incandescent with the threat of the examinations being disrupted – but this eruption of public violence has only created another distraction for the students.