Cape Town - Five learners from Pinelands High School accused of selling their black classmates in a mock slave auction have returned to the classroom as investigations continue.
This was revealed by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) as the department explained the hearings required input from various roleplayers.
The southern suburbs school was thrust into the spotlight last month, when shocking videos surfaced on social media showing coloured learners selling their black classmates in a slave auction.
The incident, captured on a cellphone camera was reported to the school management by concerned parent, Merle Potgieter.
In the captioned video “Slavery at school is crazy”, black learners can be seen placed behind a gate while their coloured classmates are heard making bids of various amounts between R50000 and R100000.
One learner offers to buy his classmate using Bitcoin crypto currency.
This led to the suspension of five learners as former teachers and current learners came forward to reveal more racist incidents.
WCED spokesperson, Bronagh Hammond, said the disciplinary hearings were continuing.
“The hearing requires the attendance of a large number of roleplayers and has been scheduled to accommodate everyone in terms of their availability. The school would like to conclude the matter as soon as possible. In terms of the Provincial Regulations relating to disciplining, suspension and expulsion of learners at public schools in the Western Cape, a learner can be pre-cautionary suspended for a period of up to seven school days. The five learners are therefore being accommodated at the school while the process is continuing, in line with these regulations.”
Hammond further said there was no need for the department to intervene.
“There is no reason for the WCED to intervene at this stage and it would be inappropriate to do so. The school is taking action in terms of the relevant disciplinary procedures as outlined in the SA Schools Act. They are complying with the regulations and we must allow for this process to take its course.”