Pretoria teacher dismissed after ‘racism’ video goes viral

A local school in Lukasrand has dismissed a substitute teacher for alleged racism.

Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane on Wednesday said his department fully supported Crawford International Pretoria College’s dismissal of the teacher.

Video footage of the teacher writing derogatory terms on the classroom whiteboard has gone viral.

Chiloane said the department visited the school on Wednesday to ascertain further details surrounding the incident that occurred on Monday.

“We are told that during an English class, the educator started writing racist remarks on a whiteboard, as depicted in the video,” Chiloane said.

According to Chiloane, the educator was teaching provocative language and allegedly told learners that they must not be hurt when the k-word is used on them because they were not affected by apartheid.

“Her actions are vehemently unacceptable and have undeniable racist undertones which will not be tolerated in any aspect of our education sector.”

Chiloane said the substitute teacher was dismissed by the school on Monday evening.

He said the GDE would ensure that the teacher was further reported to the South African Council for Educators (Sace) for necessary investigation and deregistration.

“She is not allowed to teach our children any more,” said Chiloane.

Chiloane said it was encouraging that the school had begun providing counselling to the learners affected by this incident.

“The school also reviewed their recruitment measures to avoid enlisting candidates who may threaten the delivery of quality education and learning.

“It is distasteful to see individuals who we have entrusted the education of our children with use that valuable time to push their villainous agendas and poison the minds of our learners. In the strongest sense, we condemn the behaviour of this educator and any others who may want to behave in such an unpalatable manner.”

Chiloane applauded the school for taking swift action with the decision to remove the educator.

In a letter to parents, which has since been circulated on social media, the school said it was aware of the incident.

“We have been made aware of a video circulating which contains footage of an unacceptable nature.”

The letter further stated that the individual involved was a short-term temporary substitute teacher who was brought in about a week ago to relieve a permanent teacher who was away on sick leave.

“The temporary teacher has been informed not to resume her duties, and the school reserves its rights regarding further action. We deeply regret the incident and any offence it may have caused. Our commitment to maintaining an environment of respect, diversity and inclusion remains steadfast.”

Rekord has reached out to the school for comment but had yet to receive any by the time of publication.

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