Hoerskool Ben Vorster has inherited the furore felt by the majority of South Africans over a brazen racist display by one of its pupils, Erhard, and to limit the damage, the secondary school limited access to its comments on social media.
UPDATE: Hoerskool Ben Vorster has since issued a statement in response to the racial incident involving one of its pupils. See the updated story here.
Hoerskool Ben Vorster silent about Erhard racist backlash
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Social media sherlocks wasted no time tracking down the two teenagers caught on camera casually blurting out the ‘k-word’ to a renowned YouTuber, Sonwabile during a recent Kick stream.
Erhard and a female participant, whose identity has yet to be unveiled, landed on Sonwabile’s stream during a chat roulette session on Kick, a popular online social feature that connects strangers via video feed, and the first words he uttered were:
“You EFF K****r.”
Sonwabile, completely caught off guard, tried to maintain his cool and rebutted with, “Whoa, okay? that’s not nice.”
“That is not nice… In 2023, we are still dealing with racism,” he said, visibly shaken by the encounter.
Following the backlash, Erhard, aware of the ire he drew, went dark on social media, and bizarrely, so did his school.
When this article was published, Hoerskool Ben Vorster had not made a public statement in response to the incident involving one of its pupils. Instead, the Tzaneen-based secondary school blocked public access to its comments on its social pages.
We approached the school for comment but a response was not received when this article was published.
What penalties can you face for using the ‘k-word’ in South Africa?
The word “Kaffir” in South Africa has a deeply rooted and controversial history, often mired in racial tensions and societal divisions. Historically, the term originated in the Islamic world, referring to a non-Muslim, but in the South African context, it evolved into a derogatory term used primarily during the apartheid era.
It was employed by white South Africans to demean and belittle black South Africans, carrying a weight of oppression and dehumanisation. The term became synonymous with the institutionalised racism and segregation that defined the apartheid regime, reflecting a dark chapter in South Africa’s history.
In post-apartheid South Africa, the use of the term “Kaffir” is not only socially unacceptable but also legally reprehensible. The country’s commitment to healing the racial divisions of its past led to the implementation of laws that discourage and penalise the use of such racial slurs.
Specifically, the use of the word “Kaffir” can be classified under hate speech, which is punishable under the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act of 2000.
This legislation aims to foster a society based on democratic values, social justice, and fundamental human rights.
The penalties for using this racial slur in South Africa are significant, reflecting the country’s stance against racism and discrimination. Individuals found guilty of hate speech, including the use of the word “Kaffir,” can face severe consequences ranging from fines to imprisonment.
These legal measures are part of South Africa’s broader effort to reconcile its past and promote a future built on equality, respect, and unity.