Hoerskool Jan Viljoen: Racism protest divides parents [video]

Hoerskool Jan Viljoen is investigating the racially-fuelled incident.

By / / Viral
hoerskool jan viljoen

Tensions are palpable outside Hoerskool Jan Viljoen, in Randfontein, GP, on Monday morning, where parents have gathered outside in protest against racism.

UPDATE: More schools join Hoerskool Jan Viljoen protests

Things have escalated in Randfontein since we last reported on the protest earlier this morning. Motorists are advised to avoid Main Reef Road.

MEC Lesufi, following his meeting with school management, addressed the disgruntled pupils and promised to escalate investigations into the alleged racist attack that took place on Friday.

The MEC also vowed to report the matter to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for further investigation. An inquest has also been opened by the South African police. This follows allegations of culpability in teachers who may have had a hand in fuelling racial tensions at Hoerskool Jan Viljoen.

Moreover, a school teacher has been accused of preying on girls. The identity of the teacher, at this juncture, is still not known.

Hoerskool Jan Viljoen latest news: Police clash with protesters

South African police’s public order unit, working in tandem with private security, has been using water cannons and stun grenades to disperse crowds outside the high school.

According to reporters on the ground, parents, accompanied by political groups from the ANC and EFF, picketed outside Hoerskool Jan Viljoen on Monday to raise awareness about alleged racism that has affected pupils of colour at the school.

In particular, the unrest at the Randfontein high school is the result of a fight that broke out between a number of pupils on Friday 11 February 2022. One of the victim’s parents informed reporters that his son, a matric pupil, was allegedly beaten up and tossed out of the window by a group of schoolboys.

In a statement released on Sunday, Hoerskool Jan Viljoen condemned the behaviour of the pupils involved in the racism-fuelled fight and confirmed “the board of directors has been busy investigating the incident all weekend.”

“The SMT and SGB deplore the behaviour of individuals involved in the incident at school on Friday. The school and SGB have already started to investigate the incident and will continue to do so. We want to assure you that the guilty parties will be punished in terms of the SA Schools Act and the code of conduct of the school,” the school noted.

At the time this article was published, parents were waiting to be addressed by Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, who, earlier on Monday, had met with Hoerskool Jan Viljoen’s management.

Here are some of the latest videos we sourced on the unrest: