Eight pupils from Westonaria High School on Johannesburg’s West Rand are to appear in court on Friday after a brawl between black and white pupils, News24 reported.
They are facing charges of public violence and assault in the Westonaria Magistrate’s Court.
Police arrested the pupils after clashes between 100 black and white pupils. Racial tension boiled over at the school on Thursday and the eight boys — aged between 16 and 18 — were suspended provisionally.
One of those in custody is believed to be a prefect. It is claimed that during the altercation a school teacher held one of the boys so that others could beat him up.
”It was an ugly scene,” said one of the school’s security guards, called when the fighting broke out.
Their furious parents gathered on Thursday at the police station where the pupils were being held. According to some parents, the fight was a sequel to regular confrontations between white and black pupils recently.
The father of one of the pupils was quoted as saying: ”My son was threatened that he would be ‘sorted out’ after a punch-up on Wednesday regarding stolen school bags.”
Another parent said her child was afraid to go back to school as racial tension was the order of the day.
Captain Siphiwe Ndlovu of the West Rand police said they had received a complaint about fighting at the school.
”The police went to the school and arrested eight children,” Ndlovu said.
”Those who are minors have been released into the custody of their parents, but for those over 18, bail of R300 was set.”
Deputy principal Daphn̩ Kemp said the school was conducting an internal investigation and refused to comment. РSapa