Schäfer condemns violence and rules out actions against Brackenfell High teachers

JOHANNESBURG – Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said on Monday her department would not take action against the two teachers who attended a private tuition party at Brackenfell in Cape Town, which was reportedly exclusively attended by white students ago. two weeks.

This after tensions flared outside Brackenfell High School in the morning when some residents, parents, and members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) clashed during a protest called by the party against alleged racism.

In videos circulating on social media, people are seen physically attacking each other and throwing stones at each other. At least one person was arrested for public violence.

In a statement, Schäfer strongly condemned the violence and said that the event in question had nothing to do with the school as it was organized by some parents of tuition students who attend the school.

“The school had nothing to do with the organization or management of that event. It was not supported, funded or endorsed by the school in any way. The school did not hold a matrix dance this year due to COVID-19 concerns, ”said Schäfer.

He added: “The Western Cape Department of Education cannot and will not take action against educators who were invited as guests and attended a private event, who did not organize and had no prior knowledge of the attendees. We are also not in the business of prescribing who people should invite to private events off school property. “

The MEC urged all parties to interact with each other in a “responsible and adult way.” He also criticized the EFF for organizing its protest action when students were writing their final matriculation exams.

“Our students are currently writing matriculation exams after a stressful and difficult year, and the EFF knows very well that this type of confrontation will disrupt learning and cause unnecessary distress for our students. Deliberately instigating this type of confrontation clearly demonstrates that EFF has little concern for the well-being of learners. It’s another attempt by them to sow further division with populist antics, ”he said.

EFF THREATENS TO DESCEND ON BRACKENFELL

EFF Provincial President Melikhaya Xego said Eyewitness news they wanted to make a supervisory visit but were unable to do so.

The party also condemned the clashes outside the school, saying the attacks were carried out by “armed white racists” against its members who staged a peaceful protest.

“The attacks in Brackenfell are yet another confirmation that racists are emboldened under the current regime. It confirms our long-held belief that peace without justice is futile and that, as a nation, we have forgiven people who feel no remorse for the oppression to which they have also subjected our people.

“Our laws are undermined and law officials are intimidated by white racists, who have decided that there is no black government or black authority that can threaten their control over sectors of our society,” said the EFF national spokesperson, Vuyani Pambo, in a statement. .

The party said the “terrorist attacks” would not go unanswered and threatened to reach Brackenfell in protest as it did in Senekal, Free State, in October when the two men accused of killing the farmer, Brendin Horner, appeared before the court.

“The EFF will descend on Brackenfell in its entirety and ensure that nothing works. All those white racists who have an uncontrollable desire to control the black movement and dictate where we can and cannot go will learn the humility that we teach racists in Senekal.

“They have put pressure on us and must prepare to be rejected more strongly. The EFF will communicate the way forward to all its structures, ”the statement read.

EFF condemns white terrorism in anti-racism protests in Brackenfell pic.twitter.com/Zq51qUqodW

Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) November 9, 2020

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