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- Western Cape Prime Minister Alan Winde says he is deeply concerned by clashes between EFF protesters and Brackenfell residents on Monday.
- Winde has called on the citizens of the Western Cape to remain calm and address the matter responsibly.
- On Monday, Brackenfell residents clashed with the EFF while protesting claims that only white students attended a private tuition event.
Western Cape Prime Minister Alan Winde described the clashes between parents and EFF members outside Brackenfell High School on Monday as deeply disturbing.
“The events that unfolded outside of Brackenfell High School today are deeply disturbing. We need to make sure we calm down and think about the students who are writing their exams right now after a difficult year. Violence and instigation are never the answer. Let’s address our concerns responsibly Winde shared in a video.
“What I saw today outside of Brackenfell High School really upsets me, where citizens are using a platform outside of school to stir emotions is totally unacceptable. As citizens of this province, if we have a problem, we have to sit down and talk about it. We have to deal with that as adults specifically because our matrices, in a difficult year, are trying to do their final exams. “
Winde urged groups involved in the fighting to stay away from the school’s entrance.
He called on the citizens of the Western Cape to be calm and handle the matter responsibly.
Tensions escalated Monday when angry community members clashed with a group of EFF members protesting outside Brackenfell High School.
Physical altercations between the two groups injured two EFF members.
This comes after claims were made on social media and in media reports that the event, which parents organized for tuition students, was attended by only white students and two teachers.
PHOTOS | ‘Event was open to everyone,’ Brackenfell resident says as community clashes with EFF
According to the provincial president of the EFF, Melikhaya Xego, the party wanted to meet with the principal of the school and the governing body of the school to demand that the two teachers who attended the event be suspended.
However, on Monday the party was greeted by a large crowd of members of the Brackenfell community who said they were protecting students who were writing tests.
Brackenfell alumnus Charlotte Mattheus said there was no justification for the EFF to “come and flinch” in front of the school.
“Everyone was invited,” Mattheus insisted.
“The school children who wanted to go could do so. Many were not due to Covid-19, but it was open to all.”
The private event was organized by the parents and took place on a wine estate.
However, Xego refuted the claim and said the party was informed that black students were not invited to the event.
“We shouldn’t try to sugarcoat things. They are definitely going to amend the invitation we’ve received to … portray that they are not racist,” Xego said.
The Coalition for Social Justice condemned the violence.
“The conduct displayed by some of the members of the Brackenfell community was violent and violates the constitutional right to protest of the EFF and other stakeholders,” said SJC’s Nomathemba Masemula.
“When marginalized communities decide to protest to express their views or their discontent, it gives them a real opportunity not only to force a dialogue about the violation of numerous constitutional rights, but it also allows them meaningful participation and commitment in making decision-making on matters that affect them.
