By Lekgotla Mokoena
A Sasolburg mother of two boys aged 14 and 16 has levelled allegations of racism and
ill-treatment against Hoer Tegniese Skool(HTS) in Sasolburg where they have been learners
at. As a result, the mother, who cannot be named for the protection of her children, has
taken her boys out of HTS to another school.
In turn, one of the HTS school teachers has sought for the protection order and asked the
police to investigate the matter with a view of instituting criminal prosecution against the
mother and the two boys accusing them of assaulting her. The hearing for the final
protection order is scheduled for Thursday at Sasolburg Magistrate Court.
The school has vehemently denied allegations of racism. The school’s headmaster Dirk
Coetsee said: “These claims are totally untrue we do not tolerate racism at the school. We
do everything in our power to assure harmony at the school between races.”
The two boys’ mother alleged that the mistreatment of her sons started in May when their
school was playing a rugby match against another school.
She alleges that her younger son was assaulted and racist words uttered in an apparent
altercation between the two schools after the game.
What concerns the mother in this incident is that the school did not bother to call her to
report the incident and she had to drive from Sasolburg to pick-up the child to the doctor
after receiving news from one of the learners who was at the game.
The report on the incident by the HTS School confirmed the fight at the game and stated
that there was no need for the boys from the other school to start a fist fight or use racial
remarks against the HTS Sasolburg players who just wanted to hear the war-cry clearly, and
for two first team players to team up against one under-15 boy.
Since form the incident of May both children have been in and out of the school, due to
suspension by the school and objections from the mother.
In another incident, the mother claims that one of her boys came back home crying saying
that her teacher took his table outside and told him to stay there in that cold weather. The
mother claims she immediately drove to the school to find clarity where the altercation
occurs between her and the class teacher. This when the teacher went to open a protection
order against the mother and her children of which it was granted.
In a disciplinary hearing by the school that was held on the 26 Julyl a verdict was reached of
suspension, recommend to the department for expulsion or School Governing Body opening
a criminal case against both learners and their mother.
The mother said she has also been in contact with department of education in the district with no further assistance.
The mother said she was left with no choice but to look for another school. “I’m hopeless, I
had to find another school for my children and they have already started. I can already
notice after effects of all these to the younger child he has changed a lot since these
wholedrama started and the older one is already taking antidepressants after consultation
with the phsycologist,” she said.
Responding to the allegations of the mistreatment of the boys, Coetsee said the school
always keep the learners interest at heart and have addressed issues that were reported to
them as there was merit to the concerns.
Regarding the fight that broke out after the match, the headmaster said the report
confirmed the attack on the boy and that the HTS Staff stopped the fight and protected the
HTS learners. A report of this incident has been sent to the relevant schools rugby union.
He said they struggled to immediately reach the boy’s mother after the altercation.
“The telephone numbers on the child’s indemnity form did not work, but teachers from HTS
stayed with the child and made sure he received medical attention. When we eventually
received the correct numbers from children both the deputy principal and myself phoned
the mother our cell phone records will show that,” said the Headmaster.
Coetsee confirmed the school has laid charges against the mother and her two sons.
“The boys and the mother assaulted a teacher in class all the evidence is on the security
cameras of the school. The teacher in question is still on sick leave after this incident and is
undergoing pshyciatric treatment there is also a criminal case against the mother and her
boys,” he said.
Coetsee further explained that according to the school records, the boys are still learners at
the school.
“The learners are still enrolled at the school no communication was received from the
mother to remove the learners but the teachers are still keeping the learners best interest at
heart by sending homework and schoolwork to the parent,” he said.
