The Sub Region 5 of the EFF has ensured that three boy learners get suspended for seven days from the Saint Alban’s College in Tshwane.
On Thursday several EFF members, led by their leader Bongani Ramontja, confronted the Saint Alban’s College authorities demanding that the said learners be suspended for their unruly behaviour.
Before going into the school’s premises on Thursday morning to address the said racism issue, Ramontja said the following to the media:
“We had a call alerting us that there are acts of racism taking place at the Saint Alban’s College and because we are allergic to racism as it takes us back to the dark era of apartheid, we came here to the school to make it clear to the authorities of the school that we are against racism because racism is equal to murder and rape, and that they must be principled and do the right thing as we want justice, equality and unity at the school.”
Ramontja added that they as the EFF have communicated with the attorneys of the school and made it clear that they want the matter to be investigated by an independent counsel and not someone who has been appointed by the school unilaterally to avoid a situation whereby such counsel would be biased.
He revealed that one of the victims of the alleged acts of racism and violence was currently undergoing psychological counselling due to the trauma he has suffered.
“Though Saint Alban’s College is a private institution, the Constitution makes it clear that racism, violence and intimidation are acts of crime, so we can’t allow the said transgressions to slide,” explained Ramontja.
“We have invited officials of the Department of Basic Education to come and deal with this matter and we have also made it clear to the authorities of Saint Alban’s College that they must take drastic measures to ensure that racism is nipped in the bud immediately at the school, thus sending a strong message to the three bullies that racism won’t be tolerated,” enthused Ramontja.
After the meeting with the school’s authorities, an elated Ramontja said though the meeting was lengthy with the College’s authorities trying to deny the said allegations of racism, violence and intimidation, it was finally agreed that the three bullies would be suspended from the school with immediate effect, pending completion of the investigation into the matter, and that an independent senior counsel will be appointed to investigate the matter and come up with a verdict on or before next week Wednesday.
Ramontja stressed that though they want racism to be uprooted at the College, they won’t be harsh on the three perpetrators but merely want to show them that racism won’t be tolerated as it (racism) is a backward-looking exercise.
“After 31 years of democracy in the country we want to completely cut out racism and teach other learners and parents who promote the ideology of racism that as the EFF we are not going to stand and laugh about racism but will fight it off with all our might,” he said.
He revealed that it was not the first time that the College has been embroiled in acts of racism; that a similar incident occured in 2021.
Referring to the victim of the alleged racism, Ramontja said the following:
“We no longer refer to the boy as a victim but as a hero as he has stood up against racism and he must walk tall and be proud of himself in this regard,” enthused Ramontja.
He announced that the Saint Alban’s College authorities will release a public statement of apology to the victim and announce in the very same statement that the matter will be investigated by an independent counsel so as to bring justice once and for all.
Gauteng Department of Education’s Spokesperson, Steve Mabona told Tshwane Talks in a statement that details of what actually happened during an altercation between the victim and the three “bullies” will be ventilated to the public upon completion of investigations into the matter.
The Department is aware of the racism allegations at the said school. Consequently, a team of officials was dispatched to conduct an enquiry. In the interim, the alleged perpetrator has been suspended by the school, pending an investigation.
Outcomes thereof are expected after a maximum of seven days. Indeed, we can also confirm that in 2021 there was a reported of racism allegation involving an educator.
Accordingly, disciplinary processes were instituted, and the said educator was dismissed.
It must be noted that the school has a programme called the “Being and belonging programme”, whose aim is to foster transformation and cultivate diversity.
The program acknowledges the differences of the past, find ways to co-exist and unite in the present and build a future South Africa characterised by unity in diversity.
“We have been monitoring progress at the school accordingly, and confident that St Albans College is one of the schools that are making an effort to promote non racialism.
The Department always investigates incidents of racism and guides schools on policies and programmes for intervention.
We always emphasize human rights, transformation and respect for the constitution in our schools.
All newly registered schools are inducted, and transformational principles are emphasized,” he said.