The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said it was disturbing that allegations of racist incidents in Gauteng and the Western Province continue to be made 30 years into democracy.
The commission said it was concerned and said it was more distressing to see that three of these incidents were alleged to have taken place at schools.
In Gauteng, 12 Pretoria Girls High learners have been suspended for alleged racial utterances, micro-aggressions and complaints about black pupils which were shared through a WhatsApp group consisting of only white pupils.
The second incident in Gauteng involved allegations that EFF councillor Obakeng Ramabodu uttered statements that allegedly amounted to hate speech.
The DA in Tshwane has filed a case against Ramabodu, who said “I want the blood of an Afrikaner” during a city council meeting last Thursday.
The DA has accused Ramabodu of hate speech and racism.
The remarks were made after theTshwane Metro Council descended into chaos after votes to remove Cilliers Brink as mayor were insufficient.
Ramabodu has since apologised on X.
In the Western Cape, an incident occurred at Pinelands High School with a video posted on social media that seems to show black learners placed in a cage and “sold on auction”. In another incident in the Western Cape, it is reported that a teacher at Table View High School allegedly uttered the k-word during a Grade 12 history lesson.
The commission, in a statement, said it had closely monitored these incidents and developments with a view to intervening in line with the South African Human Rights Commission Act 40 of 2013, the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act No 4 of 2000 and the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act, 16 of 2023.
Regarding Gauteng and Pretoria Girls High: “The Commission is allowing the investigative process to be undertaken by the Gauteng Department of Education and will monitor the process and the outcome with the view to making an intervention.”
Concerning Ramabodu: “The Commission is urgently assessing the matter in line with its Complaints Handling Procedure.”
Regarding the Western Cape, Pinelands High School and Table View High School incidents: “The Commission has opened its own accord investigations and has already started with the investigations.”
The commission had noted concerns raised by members of the public and human rights defenders over issues of racism and the need to address them proactively and holistically.
“The commission would like to inform the public that in April this year it established the National Question and Anti-Racism expert Advisory Committee made up of researchers, community activists, diversity experts, youth leaders and faith-based leaders to regularly advise the Commission on systemic anti-racist measures and policies that could be adopted to counter institutionalised and structural racism and discriminatory attitudes towards forging a humane society where everyone feels a sense of belongingness.
“The Commission’s Social Harmony National Effort (SHiNE) initiatives continue to hold dialogues in various communities to assist with addressing the high level of disharmony in the country and to forge a common national vision as envisaged in the preamble of the country’s Constitution.”
The commission said it would like to encourage members of the public experiencing racism to lodge complaints. Complaint forms can be accessed here at https://www.sahrc.org.za/index.php/lodge-complaints
The commission advised members of the public that Equality Courts were freely accessible.
“Individuals and groups can approach Equality Courts and lodge complaints free of charge and without the assistance of a lawyer. Equality courts are specialised courts designated to hear matters relating to unfair discrimination, hate speech and harassment. All Magistrate Courts are designated as Equality Courts,” it said.
The Star