MPUMALANGA’S education department refused on Tuesday to comment on racism hearings at Hoerskool Balfour, after five black pupils accused white classmates of regularly beating them.
One of the black pupils recently said on television that a white classmate beat him so severely he was treated for broken ribs.
Ex-rays of the injuries were broadcast as proof of the attack.
Another pupil said that a white teacher watched without intervening while a group of white pupils beat him.
Hoerskool Balfour principal Willem Viljoen confirmed that one white and five black pupils, and a white teacher had appeared before a department tribunal on racism charges but refused to release any further details.
Provincial education spokesman Peter Maminza was unable to comment, saying the hearing continued all day and officials had not yet reported back.
”This is a serious case and we cannot comment without a full report from the hearings,” said Maminza.
He was also unable to comment on a separate meeting of education department officials on general allegations of racism at the school.
— African Eye News Service, April 13, 2000.