The Free State education department must fire racist teachers, the DA in the Free State told Sapa on Thursday.
“It is a disgrace that children at a public school in a democratic South Africa can be exposed to insults and racist abuse by teachers,” DA Free State leader Patricia Kopane said.
The DA has welcomed the findings by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) into allegations of racism at Dr Viljoen Combined School in Bloemfontein this week.
The SAHRC found the staff at the school to be guilty of using hate speech towards black and coloured pupils.
“But crucially, the teachers found guilty of racism must be fired and barred from ever teaching again,” the DA leader said.
Kopane said public schools should be places of quality education, where children were taught the value of human dignity.
The case was based only on rumours and allegations by black pupils en staff.
The SAHRC initially directed their witch-hunt at Wilgehof Primary School, with the support of Jonathan Jansen, the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State.
The Jewish father who brought the complaint, Craig Thiem, was invited by the acting school principal Louis van Biljon to discuss the case with the board, but he never showed up.
In the same week Thiem was caught stealing and charged with shoplifting. He had walked off with groceries worth R524 from Pick n Pay Hypermarket in Fichardtpark.
Thiem is now seeking support from the ANC Premier. Ace Magashule’s spokesperson Oupa Khoabane says Thiem visited the ANC offices to discuss remuneration.
Thiem says he has been advised not to speak to the media about the matter. In June last year he was expelled from his “Christian Community” group.