Durban — A parent of a Kingsway High School pupil has accused the school of racism and misconduct.
Vusi Mathe, who has two children at the school, claimed that his daughter faced discrimination from teachers. Mathe’s allegations come after his daughter reported mistreatment by some staff members.
In a statement from his daughter, she recounted an incident where a teacher pulled her aside in class and asked what was “wrong” with her hair because it was highlighted at the bottom.
She said she apologised to the teacher for not following the dress code but he still shouted at her, calling her “irresponsible”. She found this unfair, noting that some Indian students also had highlights in their hair, but the teacher did not address them in the same manner.
She said that he then pulled her by her braids and she told him to stop because it hurt.
“He said I did not deserve to go to that school or KHS either and then said some poor unfortunate school is where I truly belong.
“He asked for my ID card and took a picture of it and while doing so he called me names such as idiot and foolish,” she wrote.
In another incident on August 6, when one of her classmates broke her tablet device and the school did not request for the parent to pay for it, Mathe decided to write to the school’s governing body and KZN Education Department. He also claimed that the KZN Department of Education and the school have ignored his calls for assistance or investigation into the matter.
Mathe said that this symbolised how racism is deeply rooted at Kingsway High School.
Mathe said that even through such action, the principal did not do anything but “she neutralised the matter to cover her staff and to protect her profession by compromising the rights of my child.
“After 30 years of democracy there are other races who are treating our children like our ancestors were treated by their fathers. I, therefore, resist for an African child to be treated like they are treated at this school and I will do whatever necessary to protect the dignity of Africans.”
Njabulo Dube of the school’s SGB said they are aware of the matter and have escalated it to the department.
KZN Education’s head of communications, Muzi Mahlambi, said that the department takes the matter very seriously based on the comments from parents and the school.
He said that they have approached the district to investigate the incidents.
“We must not be the ones teaching the children racism because they do not know racism. However we are attending to the matter,” he said.
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Daily News