WATCH: Hillcrest High pupils speak of racism, sexism, bullying at school
Updated | By Nushera Soodyal
Some Hillcrest High School pupils who met with KZN Education officials have spoken out about incidents of racism, sexism and bullying at the school.
It comes after five matriculants were suspended earlier this year for using racial slurs on a private WhatsApp group.
The conversation, which happened last year, was shared on other social media platforms.
On Wednesday, in a statement, the SGB said during disciplinary hearings, the boys said they had not understood the connotation of the words used and apologised.
Newswatch sat in a meeting between the school's pupils and MEC on Thursday morning.
Emotional and angry learners told the MEC Mbali Frazer how the five schoolboys were given a seven-day suspension but were allowed to return to school after three days.
The pupils claim the boys have also been involved in bullying incidents and say on one occasion, while they were protesting, they blew kisses at them.
A pupil told Frazer that the student who leaked the WhatsApp conversation was made to apologise, but the boys were never made to apologise for what they had done.
KZN Education MEC, Mbali Frazer arrives at #Hillcrest High School where 5 learners were accused of racism. The learners were suspended after snippets of a whatsapp conversation were shared on social media. Learners has used racial slurs and derogatory terms @ECR_Newswatch pic.twitter.com/VeIrnnEq7S
— Nushera Soodyal (@nushera) August 18, 2022
The MEC heard that the boys are being protected by the school.
The pupils say they want them to publicly apologise and be expelled.
After the meeting, several pupils staged a brief anti-racism protest in the courtyard.
A few of them later went officers to the Hillcrest police station to file a complaint about the handling of the matter.
Some students have been brave enough to speak to us today… This student explains what they have felt since the messages were leaked @ECR_Newswatch pic.twitter.com/5cdWcL2qY5
— Nushera Soodyal (@nushera) August 18, 2022
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