Chaos has broken out outside Brackenfell High School as protesters were seen clashing with public order police in the Cape Town northern suburb.
Brackenfell hit by third wave of protests: Here’s what we know
Reporters were on the ground to capture footage of Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) members gathered near the suburb’s train station, singing struggle songs with the lyrics, “one settler, one bullet.”
The chant of One Settler One Bullet precedes more song at the PAC protest over the events at Brackenfell High School. This is at Brackenfell train station. (@itchybyte) pic.twitter.com/Td91whVI1S
— Team News24 (@TeamNews24) November 18, 2020
The town has been hit by a wave of protests after pupils from Brackenfell High School broke their silence about the ongoing racism that has plagued the institution for years.
In a statement released on social media, the PAC called on its members to make their presence felt in a town that is apparently not accepting of black people.
“The physical aggression against African people reflects n unrepentant attitude of Baaskap mentality from the people of European ancestry. They’ve had their feet on our necks for far too long! It’s enough,” the political movement exclaimed in a statement.
PAC DESCENDS ON BRACKENFELL
— Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) (@MyPAConline) November 17, 2020
"This coming Wednesday, PAC in the Western Cape will descend on Brackenfell
All members and supporters of the party are requested to come in their numbers and defend our right to call our souls our own" PAC President Mzwanele Nyhontso #PACofAzania RT pic.twitter.com/PYq98MHyNL
Already, tensions have exploded in the area. Local authorities used stun grenades to disperse the crowd of protesters that was making its way to the school.
Chaos erupted as police used stun grenades to disperse a group of PAC protesters marching towards Brackenfell High School. #Brackenfellhighschool#Brackenfell#PAC
— IOL News (@IOL) November 18, 2020
Video: @henkpix / @AfriNewsAgency https://t.co/N2EylJm7IV pic.twitter.com/PJLbAZzCfc
EFF granted permission to protest at Brackenfell High School
This is not the last of the unrest we’ve seen in Brackenfell. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have secured a court order that effectively grants the party permission to stage a protest outside Brackenfell High School on Friday.
Under the court ruling, the party is allowed a maximum capacity of 100 protesters. Residents of the northern suburb and other detractors have been warned to avoid confronting the EFF members, with exception given to parents who will be there to drop off their children.
Furthermore, Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schafer has agreed to meet with the EFF leadership on Thursday for a constructive meeting “in an attempt to try and reach a suitable understanding on the way forward.”
‘School will continue as normal on Friday’
Brackenfell High School has confirmed that things will continue as normal on Friday.
“School for us will continue as per the norm. In terms of safety and security, I believe the government will be handling that on our behalf,” principal JW Muller told IOL News.
At the time of publishing this article, protests were still ongoing in Brackenfell.