Grade 8 from Pinelands High School face suspension over a viral video showing school slave auction. Image (Africanews)
(The Post News)- A disturbing video has surfaced, showcasing Grade 8 learners at Pinelands High School in the Western Cape engaging in a reprehensible mock slave auction, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation. The clip, which has gone viral, depicts black students being confined to a cage and sold to their peers, with some learners bidding exorbitant prices for their classmates.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the school community, prompting a swift response from top officials. The Department of Education has denounced the learners’ actions, stating that they contravene the school’s values and principles. An investigation has been launched, with the learners involved facing precautionary suspension pending the outcome.
The school’s principal, Graham Sayer, and the chairperson of the School Governing Body, Joy-Marie Lawrence, have issued a joint letter to parents and guardians, assuring them that the incident is being taken seriously. Counseling services have been offered to the affected learners, and the school is engaging with teachers, learners, and parents to address the issue.
The Black People’s National Crisis Committee has expressed deep concern and disappointment, highlighting the incident as a stark reminder of the lingering social divisions in South Africa. Songezo Mazizi, a spokesperson for the committee, emphasized that the dignity of black people remains compromised when such incidents occur in schools.
As the investigation unfolds, the school community is grappling with the aftermath of this distressing incident. The suspension of the learners involved serves as a stern reminder of the consequences of such behavior, and the need for ongoing education and awareness about the impact of racism and discrimination.
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