Lesufi to Hoërskool Jan Viljoen parents: ‘Embrace a truly non racial SA’

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has called on parents at Hoerskool Jan Viljoen in Randfontein, Johannesburg, to do all they can to confront racism and also embrace the concept of non-racialism.

Lesufi visited the school for a parents’ meeting, which was rescheduled after it didn’t proceed on Thursday due to rain.  Even then, the sitting descended into a screaming match between both black and white parents. He updated parents on their grievances on Sunday, 20 February 2022.

The school found itself at the centre of a racial storm, stemming from a violent altercation between black and white pupils. It isn’t exactly clear what led to the fight but reports say a group of black pupils in Grade 8 were confronted by white learners who utterred the k-word.

ALSO READ: Hoërskool Jan Viljoen teacher suspended over sexual abuse allegations

PANYAZA LESUFI MEETS HOERSKOOL JAN VILJOEN LEARNERS

Panyaza Lesufi says a series of external investigations have begun at Hoerskool Jan Viljoen, including of racism and other issues. It was learnt last week that a staff member at the school was suspended after being accused of sexual misconduct.

“I went ahead to meet with our learners. It was a difficult exercise, it was a painful exercise. It was an exercise that till today I regret but still appreciate. I want to declare to the management that this school belongs to all of us, all of us must feel safe. Our purpose is to ensure that we deliver quality education and save our children from the trauma of racism. We will never tolerate any form of racism, regardless of where it comes from.”

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi

Lesufi said the educators also spoke about some of their challenges when coming to handling diversity in the new environment they are teaching in.

“What they emphasise is that the school is a functional school that is struggling to manage diversity and that is going through a transformational process,” he said.