Cape Town: The South African police fired tear gas at opposition activists protesting against alleged racism at a Cape Town school after a so-called “whites-only” year-end dance party organised off-site, reportedly by parents. Anti-riot police fired tear gas and water cannon at nearly 2,000 members of the radical left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party who gathered near the school.
“Police fired tears, stun grenade and used water cannon to prevent the protesters from approaching the school,” reports said. The protesters dispersed and regrouped a few blocks away. Reports said the protesters were “quite peaceful” and have accused the police of being heavy-handed. “They are also angry at the police and saying they won’t respond in the same manner against white protesters,” the reports said.
Police later told the protest organisers only 100 people were allowed to march to the school. The protests were the latest in a string of demonstrations against alleged racism at Brackenfell High School following the party, which was held at a winery farm in Stellenbosch, east of Cape Town.
Prior to the event, a flyer was shared on a dedicated WhatsApp group that included several teachers, Black students from the school said. The flyer was not shared via regular class WhatsApp groups, one student said, saying it was clear Black students were meant to be excluded. The school denies the event was an official function and maintains it was privately organised by parents.
“The masked ball, referred to as a matric farewell, was a private party organised by the parents of matriculants, and did not fall under the control of the school at all,” the school’s governing body wrote in a letter to parents.
“The function was held on a private venue and not at the school, as certain allegations claim. The governing body and staff of Brackenfell High School therefore distance themselves from any allegations that Brackenfell High School will condone or accommodate any events that are exclusively reserved for certain groups, and especially racial groups.”
A few days after the party, EFF members tried to march to the school but were blocked by some of the students’ parents resulting in fistfights. Widely shared video footage showed dramatic scenes of angry white parents punching the EFF’s Black protesters on the streets. The confrontation disturbed President Cyril Ramaphosa who called for an investigation, describing the clashes as “deeply regrettable”.
