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By IOL Reporter 
14h ago
Cape Town – With more and more former and current Brackenfell High School students talking about the racism experienced at the school, police have confirmed that a bullying case has been opened.
Colonel Andre Traut said Friday that a 22-year-old man registered a case of bullying at the Rondebosch police station on Wednesday and that it is being investigated.
News24 reported that Siya Ntuntwana, who enrolled at Brackenfell High in 2016, had received death threats after reporting racism at the school.
In a video interview with EWN, two days after violence erupted outside Brackenfell High when EFF members were attacked, Ntuntwana, wearing her Old Boys uniform near the school gates, said: “ The students who use drugs, would be punished. , they would have to follow rehabilitation programs. And only after they are done with the rehab programs will they be allowed back to school.
” But with racism you have a two-hour detention or a 16-hour detention and then you are allowed to go back to school.
“But I want to say that racism is not something you are born with, it is something that is taught and the school does nothing to address these issues.
“In my five years in school I have never heard the school talk about racism, but I have heard them talk on numerous occasions about ‘Don’t do drugs, don’t do all these things.’ And I’m not surprised all of this comes out. ”
According to former and current students, the private party that sparked the protests was just the tip of the school’s racist culture.
Ntuntwana, who played rugby and cricket in the first team and was on the student representative council, told News24: “My sister was in school 10 years ago and experienced racism, the student who called her K-word received two days suspension.
“After that he went back to school making fun of her. I enrolled in 2016 and in 2020 we are experiencing racism.
“Even though I was very involved in school, it did not exclude me from experiencing racism,” said Ntuntwana, who had already documented her experiences at school on social media in June when the Black Lives Matter movement took off.
“There would be times during class discussions where teachers would say things like ‘South Africa was in a better position in apartheid than it is now.’
In the eleventh grade, Ntuntwana, previously referred to by his middle name “Keith”, asked the school to refer to him by his first name, Siyabulela.
“ They threatened to rewrite an essay and on another occasion my math teacher told me that she would refuse to grade my exam because I wrote my name as Siyabulela Keith Ntuntwana and not Keith Ntuntwana. ”
He had to prove to the school administration that his real name was Siyabulela by showing his identification.
An Instagram page with more than 100 posts dedicated to sharing the experiences of alumni has also provided a shocking insight into the racism experienced by many current and former students at the school, with a formal memo given to the principal, the school’s governing body. (SBG) president and staff on July 8.
The SGB stated in a letter to parents: “Brackenfell High School is an inclusive and integrated school that promotes non-racism and reconciliation.”
However, in a statement released by the SGB on Friday, he said: “The SGB and the staff at Brackenfell High School are fully committed to participating in future discussions with students and parents to ensure a constructive path forward.
“Regarding the way forward, our goal is to expand and adapt to make school a better place. The school has already begun to address concerns and implement various measures to facilitate diversity. “
The school is in the process of engaging outside professional speakers and consultants to conduct sensitivity and diversity training with staff and students next year.
Processes are also being implemented to create safe spaces and communication opportunities where students can feel free to voice concerns and report problems.
“The school condemns and we unequivocally distance ourselves from the incidence of violence that occurred around our school, as well as from any form of hate speech expressed on social media as a result of these events.
“These unfortunate actions do not represent the values that we embrace and teach at Brackenfell High School; values such as unity, respect, responsibility, citizenship, integrity and love of neighbor …
“We sincerely appeal to our parents, community members, and people outside our community, to refrain from engaging in any form of assault or violence on or around school premises …
“We implore you to exercise calm and discipline, as any escalation of violence will only endanger our students, their children, and will cause them unnecessary anxiety and distract them from their exams.
“Please give the school a chance to address your concerns and chart a course toward reconciliation and healing.”
MESS
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