Investigation launched into Pretoria Boys High learner’s alleged racist video
"Meetings with parents were also held within the first 24 hours of the matter being brought to the school's attention," said the statement.
Pretoria Boys High School has launched an investigation into a video of a learner who made racial remarks. It is unclear when the video was recorded, however, in the 12-second video, posted on Twitter, it shows an alleged grade 12 learner smiling and saying, “I did not steal your cable bru, F***** blacks bra.”
Pretoria Boys High in a statement said it was aware of a number of social media posts by some of their learners which contained “racist and offensive language.”
It said it had now taken a series of steps to address the matter.
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“The matter was brought to the attention of the headmaster, Mr Tony Reeler, late on Sunday.”
It said Reeler reported the incidents first thing on Monday to the Gauteng Department of Education.
“At the same time, a series of investigations into the posts were conducted and parents of the boys were contacted.”
“Meetings with parents were also held within the first 24 hours of the matter being brought to the school’s attention,” said the statement.
— Pretoria Boys High School (@PtaBoysHigh) June 1, 2020
The school said it had determined that disciplinary action against the necessary learners be taken in line with the school’s policies.
It said the policies were of non-racialism, diversity and tolerance.
“Each incident will be examined independently.”
The school said each disciplinary hearing would be carried out by the disciplinary sub-committee of the school governing body (SGB), which consisted of three parents and a school teacher.
“In addition, the disciplinary committee will be representative in terms of gender and race.”
It said the disciplinary process was also governed by the South African school’s act and the committee would present its findings to the Gauteng Education Department in due course.
“Pretoria Boys High school takes these incidents extremely seriously and we are deeply saddened by the behaviour of these learners.”
— Pretoria Boys High School (@PtaBoysHigh) June 1, 2020
It said the school had an established code of conduct and diversity policy in place.
“We expect all our boys to adhere to the principles contained therein at all times, including their activities on social media.”
It said a diversity forum was also in the process of being established consisting of boys in their school to contribute towards policy direction and decision making.
“Regrettably this forum has been unable to start its work in 2020 due to the coronavirus interrupting the academic year.”
It said the school was committed to an ongoing programme to foster diversity, tolerance and understanding in all spheres of life.
“We are grateful to those many boys who embody this spirit of a non-racial society.”
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“We will now entrust the SGB to carry out its work and make the necessary findings.”
Pretoria Boys High said it also noticed that the learner who posted the initial video was scared of being expelled or facing other punishment by the school.
“We noticed there is a fear of being expelled for posting about racially offensive posts by some learners. We wish to assure everyone this is not the case. We are taking the necessary action against those concerned,” it concluded.
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