fallout from Vryburg
Bongani Siqoko
The ongoing racial clashes at Vryburg High School in North West province have put a strain on many Afrikaans schools around the country – some of them battling to overcome the perception that they are all racist.
The principal of Elandspoort High School in Pretoria, Sarel du Toit, said Afrikaans schools were watching developments at Vryburg with keen interest. ”There are many other schools with the same problems,” he said.
He added that in every school where there is more than one cultural group there will always be clashes. ”Black students complain and say white students call them names, then the white students say black students call them names in a language they don’t u nderstand.”
He said the best thing for Vryburg now would be to close down for at least three days to cool emotions down.
Last year the Human Rights Commission investigated 29 alleged cases of racism at Afrikaans schools, including Elandspoort – where classes were suspended for two weeks after a racial fight that left two black students hospitalised.
”Having white students and black students in one classroom will always be a risk. But one must be prepared to take that risk and when things like this happen, don’t run away but get together and talk things out,” Du Toit said.
The clashes at Vryburg started last Friday when a white student claimed that four black students assaulted her. The black students denied this, but were assaulted in retaliation by white pupils.
The principal of Linden High School, Louis van Dyk, blamed parents for the clashes. He said it is difficult for children to tolerate each other when their parents cannot.
Van Dyk dismissed the idea that all Afrikaans schools are struggling to deal with racial clashes. ”Not all Afrikaans schools are like that,” he said, adding that it was time this perception was changed.
He said his school has ”blacks, coloureds and whites and my students are happy”.