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The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says there is prima facie evidence for a case to be brought against the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) for the chants it made during the party’s protest against racism in Brackenfell High School.
The party protested at the school last week over accusations of racism and discrimination.
SAHRC Commissioner Advocate Andre Hurtley Gaum said the commission would take the PAC to Equality Court over the chant. a settler, a bullet.
Gaum said the commission would investigate allegations of racism and discrimination at the school that led to the protests by the PAC and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), as well as the resulting violence and conduct by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
ALSO READ: WATCH: Rubber bullets fly as PAC protests in front of Brackenfell High School
In addition, the commission would investigate allegations of hate speech, particularly in relation to EFF members who protested at the school last week while singing. Shoot the farmer, shoot the boer The commission and the Equality Court had previously determined that the slogan constituted hate speech, Gaum said.
The commission will also look at alleged offensive comments on social media made by EFF MP Nazier Paulsen, Gaum added.
Sensitivity training
Gaum said the commission had met with the school principal and the president of its school governing body (SGB), who denied allegations of racism and discrimination at the school and indicated that the school had a diversity committee.
The SGB president also agreed to consider conducting sensitivity training, with the assistance of the commission, for school staff and students, Gaum said.
Commission monitors on the ground during protests at the school last Friday noted the police’s use of stun grenades and water cannons to disperse protesters. However, they did not witness the alleged looting of shops and destruction of property and the commission had not received any complaints regarding these latest allegations, Gaum said.
Gaum urged anyone with information about the looting of shops during the protest at the school to approach the commission.
The commission has written to the Western Cape Department of Education and the school regarding the allegations of racism and discrimination and a meeting has been scheduled with the two entities, as well as the SGB and the student body to explore the matter in depth. Gaum said.
Gaum said the commission urged that those enrolled have a chance to write their final exams in peace and that protesters stay away from the school.
The commission was also concerned about non-compliance with Covid-19 regulations during protests last week, Gaum said.
Career conference
The commission would also convene a summit on growing racial tensions and racial polarization in the country because “this is a systemic problem” that is not limited to Brackenfell High School or the surrounding community, Gaum said.
Another SAHRC commissioner, Andrew Christoffel Nissen, said he was of the opinion that it was wrong for some political parties to ask the community to come out in defense of the school in the wake of the PAC and EFF protests.
SAHRC Chief Executive Officer Tseliso Thipanyane urged South Africans to remain committed to the project of building unity, promoting a non-racist society and addressing “imbalances”.
SAHRC President Professor Bongani Majola said there seemed to be a worrying culture of no longer upholding the law in South Africa, which was dangerous for the country’s democracy.
“So I am very concerned about this anarchy that you see in the protests and everywhere,” Majola said.
Gaum said the commission would also investigate EFF leader Julius Malema’s alleged threats against SAPS and whether these were “problematic” in terms of hate speech.
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