An investigation into a matric farewell event organised for Brackenfell High School pupils has concluded that it was a private function and did not exclude anyone on the basis of race, notes a TimesLIVE report.

Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said she had received a report from the provincial department and the facts ‘corroborate initial reports this was a private function’.

The report found a parent decided to organise a function for her daughter and friends at a wine farm with tickets costing R500.

‘The invitation was widely circulated via WhatsApp groups. The parent asked class representatives to circulate it to their class WhatsApp groups, and the principal has confirmed with that they did so,’ said Schäfer.

The invitation was also posted on the organiser’s Facebook page, so was open to people outside Brackenfell High as well.

As a result, there were 42 pupils from Brackenfell High and 30 from surrounding schools who attended. Four teachers were invited in their personal capacities as they had close personal links to the organising parent.

However, Schäfer noted the incident had highlighted other incidents of racial tensions which the school acknowledged.

It planned to address these by, among other things, forming a diversity committee following allegations of racist behaviour by some individuals, and setting up planning activities to improve pupil leadership and relations between pupils of different backgrounds.

‘In addition to this, the district will also arrange diversity workshops facilitated by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation for all the staff at the school,’ said Schäfer.

Full TimesLIVE report

Judge Siraj Desai has questioned the investigation, notes a Cape Argus report.

The School Governing Body is seeking an interdict to prevent the EFF from protesting near the school, but the case has been postponed several times. Desai has postponed the case to 22 December for judgment.

At yesterday’s hearing, the judge said that he did not understand why the school or department had not attempted to resolve the matter in a more amicable and sensitive manner.

‘In my opinion, the first thing the school and the department should have done was to immediately suspend the educators involved and launch an impartial independent inquiry. That would have helped them respond in a more sensitive and conscious manner,’ said Desai.

Representatives for Schäfer pointed out that while the WCED had launched its own investigation into the alleged racism claims, an independent inquiry was also being conducted by the Human Rights Commission.

Full Cape Argus report (subscription needed)