Black pupils held in a caged enclosure while coloured pupils outside the enclosure call for bids in an apparent ‘slave’ auction at Pinelands High School. (Screengrab/Supplied)
- Five pupils, suspended for “auctioning off” black classmates in an apparent racist incident, have been sanctioned.
- The sanctions are “restorative”, according to the education department.
- It will include workshops, learning programmes, written assignments, an apology, and community service.
Five pupils who were suspended after they “auctioned off” their black classmates in an apparent racist incident at Pinelands High School have been sanctioned.
The spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department, Bronagh Hammond, told News24 the department was informed that the School Governing Body’s disciplinary process into serious misconduct by the five pupils had been finalised.
“The necessary disciplinary procedures were followed,” she said.
Hammond said the outcome of the process and the sanctions were communicated to the parents and pupils involved.
“The sanctions are restorative in nature and include participating in various workshops and learning programmes, written assignments, an apology, as well as community service,” she said.
READ | Pinelands High pupils back at school after ‘auctioning off’ black classmates
Hammond added that numerous deadlines had been established to ensure accountability and compliance with the sanctions.
“The sanctions were designed to help the learners involved gain a deeper understanding of the seriousness of the incident and its impact on others, particularly in the historical context of South Africa. This outcome was supported by the parents and learners involved, including the victims,” she said.
Hammond said the school had indicated its commitment to promote non-racialism and diversity at the school.
In July, News24 reported on a video of a group of pupils “auctioning off” their black classmates after it had gone viral on social media.
The footage, with the caption “slavery at schools is crazy”, showed black pupils in a caged enclosure, which appeared to be a storage area for bicycles and umbrellas, while coloured pupils outside the enclosure called for bids.
News24 previously reported that the pupils involved were suspended for a period of up to seven school days.
They were back at school last month.
