Hoërskool Ben Vorster: ‘Racist learner is showing remorse’

Hoërskool Ben Vorster in Limpopo has trended for the wrong reasons, thanks to a learner of the school who uttered distasteful words to a YouTuber Sonwabile.

HOËRSKOOL BEN VORSTER DRAGGED INTO THE MUD

This sparked outrage prompting calls for the boy to be traced and found, and to the school’s ‘luck’ he was found to be part of its family.

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Amid the uproar, the School Governing body of Hoërskool Ben Vorster released a statement that it had immediately launched an investigation after it came to the SBG’s attention that a learner of the school made a racial slur during a live broadcast on social media.

“The broadcast took place after school hours, was unrelated to school activities and the school was not directly implicated or identified,” Eddie Vorster, the Chairperson of the governing boy, clarified.

“The governing body strongly condemns the incident. It is in direct contrast with the values of the school and is in no way a reflection on the culture of inclusivity at the school,” the Chairperson said.

RACIST INCIDENT REPORTED TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Hoerskool Ben Vorster also clarified that there is no direct family link between Vorster (SGB Chairperson) and the learner.

Nevertheless, Vorster said the Limpopo Department of Education has been informed of the incident and a conversation with the learner and his parents also took place.
“The learner has shown remorse and realises that his behaviour was unacceptable. The governing body emphasises that in the case of minor children, adult role-players have a duty to educate. The case will be handled in a responsible manner. Everyone from parents to teachers have a duty to contribute to the development of responsible citizens, inclusivity, respect for others and tolerance are very high on this list,” he said.

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INVESTIGATION TO BE GUIDED BY SCHOOL’S DISCIPLINARY POLICY

Vorster added that the incident will be investigated in accordance with disciplinary policy and the impact on the school’s reputation will be considered. “As with all sanctions against learners in a disciplinary context, any potential sanctions in this case will be based on the duty to educate. In other words, not only punishment but positive behavioural change,” he explained.

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Irrespective of the outcome of the governing body’s investigation, Vorster said programmes will be developed to inform learners of the various aspects of the school’s ethical code of conduct. “It is not enough to know the values of the school, learners should also know what these values look like in their everyday lives, inside and outside of the school,” he concluded.

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