Brackenfell High: ‘The right to protest is fundamental’ – Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

• The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation condemned the violence at Brackenfell High School.
• The foundation said that, in the past, it had similarly spoken out outside of schools on issues of racism.
• It is also concerned about the alleged segregated act attended by enrollment students.

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation (AKF) has condemned the violence EFF supporters were subjected to at Brackenfell High School in Cape Town.

The foundation said that, in the past, it had similarly spoken out outside of schools on issues of racism.

AKF’s anti-racism manager Busi Nkosi said the foundation viewed the right to protest as fundamental in the fight against racism and other social injustices.

“Those who oppose the EFF’s right to assemble and protest at school apparently did so on the grounds that the EFF had no right to be in ‘their’ area. This mentality is one that must also be condemned,” he said Nkosi.

Nkosi added that they are concerned about the alleged segregated private event attended by tuition students.

Said it needed to be independently tested.

Nkosi lashed out at the dismissive attitude of the Western Cape education department, saying it indicates a serious lack of understanding of the seriousness of the problem.

“In a country where the problems of racism are at the forefront of the lived experience of almost all its citizens, it is time that we recognize its existence and find ways to engage around durable solutions to eradicate it from both public and private life.

“As we do this, we also need to have a conversation about how to deal with cases of suspected racism and if the existing mechanisms to deal with them are used enough and if they are effective.”

“Let’s also be aware of the students, who have to write their exams in this unfavorable environment, and put their interests before everything that needs to be done.

“These students have had to cope with the effects of Covid-19 and an enormously difficult academic year and they do not need the additional pressure of violence and conflict outside of school,” Nkosi said.

Nkosi said the issue of racism should be investigated by the South African Human Rights Commission and the provincial education department, with possible assistance from its national office.

“The South African Police Service must ensure that protests are carried out within the limits of the law and with little or no impact on the testing environment required by Brackenfell High School students,” said Nkosi.

Meanwhile, EFF member Sibongile Nkasayi has opened a criminal case against a man caught on camera assaulting her with a baseball bat outside the school.

Earlier Tuesday, the education department reiterated that the event was not a white-only school function.

Education MEC Debbie Schafer said, if this were the case, the department would have immediately acted against the school.

“First of all, if the media reports had been true that this was a ‘white only’ matrix function organized by the school, the WCED would certainly have acted against the school immediately. This would have been a violation of our Constitution, “Schafer said in a statement.

“However, the school did not organize, organize, organize or support this event. It was a private party for 42 of the 254 enrolled in that school year.”