A Paarl Gim rugby player has been banned for a year after hurling racial abuse at players from Wynberg Boys’ High earlier this month.
On June 1, Paarl Gim played Wynberg Boy’s in Paarl. The racial slurs included the use of the k-word, directed at one player, and one boy being told by another: “I will slap the coloured off your face”.
The incident was greeted with protests from the Wynberg Boys team, who were trailing 33-0 at the time, and some even resorted to walking off the field while the game was being played.
The under-16 player was found guilty after Paarl Gim held an independent disciplinary hearing, which Wynberg principal Keith Richardson said was handled very professionally.
“Paarl Gim acted professionally and I believe the matter was handled fairly. They called in witnesses, the boy and some of our boys.”
SArugbymagazine.co.za reported that the player could face expulsion if he is found guilty of a similar offence in the future.
Richardson said this was a good learning experience for the players and hopefully others who heard about the story.
“The most important thing is that other boys may also learn from this and hopefully they will learn that they must think before they say anything. There has been so much publicity around this that everyone can learn something from it.”
Paarl Gim head of Rugby Deon Gerber said he was not able to give comment on the matter as a statement had been released by the school.
The headmaster, Eddie Bateman, could not be reached for comment, but shortly after the incident said the school strongly condemned racism.
“Racism is diametrically opposed to the value system of the school,” Bateman said.- iol.co.za