SAHRC clears Brackenfell High School in ‘whites only’ matric dance furore
The South African Human Rights Commission has failed to find any evidence of racism on the part of Brackenfell High School after a group of pupils held a private matric party.
The school, which is based in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, made headlines back in 2020 after a group of pupils hosted a private matric ball that excluded pupils on the basis of race.
An initial investigation, conducted by the provincial Department of Education, found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the school.
It said the event was a private function organised by a group of pupils following the cancellation of the official event.
SAHRC commissioner Andre Guam says the commission interviewed teachers and pupils but could not find any evidence of racism.
“While the commission found, through its investigation, that some of the school’s officials knew about the event, as details of the event were shared by parents/guardians and learners of the school on WhatsApp, Facebook and by word of mouth and four teachers had been invited in their private capacity, the evidence before the commission exonerates the school from the planning, funding, advertising or hosting the event.
“Accordingly, the commission found that the school did not host a ‘whites only matric ball’ and therefore did not discriminate, whether directly or indirectly, fairly or unfairly, against Grade 12 learners on the ground of race.”
Guam says the event organisers also did not directly or indirectly discriminate against pupils.
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