Hoërskool Jan Viljoen: Chaos escalates, roads blocked by burning tyres
Anarchy has erupted in this part of Randfontein, after black students at Hoërskool Jan Viljoen were ‘racially abused’ by their white peers.
The situation at Hoërskool Jan Viljoen is an extremely tense one this morning, after the racism row engulfing the school spilled onto the streets. Scores of parents gathered at the facility on Monday, as protesters were met by counter-protesters. A visit from Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has failed to quell the unrest.
RANDFONTEIN SCHOOL RACISM: LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES
White students and teachers are accused of racially abusing black learners at the school. The long-running saga finally came to a head on Friday, after a mass brawl erupted on the premises. With tensions simmering over the weekend, a return to school on Monday provided us with a confrontational powder-keg.
Racists will always behave like this as long as you continue singing #DieStem. Wake up Black Child they never loved you and they'll never do that in the next life. #HoerskoolJanViljoen pic.twitter.com/xCmzVWkOct
— Battalion 54 (@54Battalion) February 14, 2022
HOËRSKOOL JAN VILJOEN AT CENTRE OF RACISM STORM
SAPS has been deployed to the scene, and officers have used stun grenades and water cannons to break up large crowds. Lesufi himself met with the faculty today, confirming that the police have more work to do here:
“There are WhatsApp voice notes and messages that will be referred to the SAPs, he says there is a need for police to investigate. We’ve got evidence that the teachers are treating pupils negatively. There will be a meeting with parents inside the school tomorrow at 6:00 – this must not become violent.”
Panyaza Lesufi
The chaos has even alarmed Amnesty South Africa. The human rights group have expressed their concerns about ‘racial tensions’ at Hoërskool Jan Viljoen, and they’re calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
“We are concerned about reports of ongoing racial tension leading to violence at Hoërskool Jan Viljoen on Friday & today amongst parents. There should be no room for racism in SA schools; all learners must be treated equally.”
Amnesty SA
WATCH: TYRE FIRES BURN NEAR HOËRSKOOL JAN VILJOEN
Pupils from other nearby schools also left their classrooms on Monday, to join in with the gatvol learners from Hoërskool Jan Viljoen. However, things turned ugly when burning tyres were used to block the roads.
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