[LISTEN] Anger over segregated seating at NW school

Political parties have reacted with anger to the alleged incident of racism at Laerskool Schweizer Reneke in North West. 

A photograph emerged depicting the segregation of black and white children in a Grade R class at the school.

The MEC of Education in the North West, Sello Lehari, confirmed to community members on Thursday that the teacher who separated the pupils has been suspended with immediate effect.

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The Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) in the North West picketed outside the school on Wednesday.

 EFF spokesperson in the area Jerry Matebesi says the party wants full accountability from the school governing body and the management of the school.

"We want a proper investigation to be conducted, whoever was responsible for such an act must be taken to account  whether it's the principal, the teacher and SGB member whoever was responsible for that.

"Such a person must take full responsibility."

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has described the incident as unfortunate.

"Our message is simple that in South Africa there must never be a time where our young people are exposed to the legacies and histories of our past, there must never be a time where young children are forced to have hatred in their hearts not know how," says DA youth leader Luyolo Mphithi.

The African National Congress (ANC) spokesperson Dakote Legoete says the time has come to bring an end to incidents of racism.

"According the Bible script, everyone is created in the image of God so for anyone to be a racist is ungodly."

Civic organisation, Forum for Service Delivery, has urged black and white parents to remain calm, as the claims of racism has not been proved. 

"We can't be making a segregation call because of a picture, we need to sit down and really understand what was the logic behind that picture, what was happening at that moment why the children were sitting," says the organisation's Elias Mogoru.