President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the confrontation outside Brackenfell High School in Cape Town as deeply regrettable and has called on all parties involved to act responsibly.
On Monday, 09 November 2020, a violent confrontation broke out between a group of parents from the school and members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The EFF members were protesting against alleged racism at the school.
“At this most important and difficult time for matriculants not only at Brackenfell High School but around the country, the spectacle of parents and protestors coming to blows at the school gate is deeply unfortunate,” President Ramaphosa said.
“It is the right of every South African to engage in peaceful protest, and any actions to suppress the right to freedom of expression, particularly through violence and intimidation, must be roundly condemned,” the President said.
“What happened today brings back hurtful memories of a past we should never seek to return to,” President Ramaphosa said.
The President added that allegations of racism levelled against the school needed to be urgently investigated.
“We should be ever mindful of the extent to which our actions, both publicly and in private, undermine the cherished principle of non-racialism upon which our democracy was founded,” President Ramaphosa said.
The President has called on all parties concerned to exercise restraint and to resolve their differences peacefully and through dialogue.
“We should not allow what has transpired at Brackenfell High School to be used by any groupings who want to cause racial polarisation,” the President said.
Meanwhile, The Democratic Alliance (DA) has given the background to what allegedly transpired at Brackenfell High School.
"The School, like many other schools across South Africa, cancelled its matric dance due to Covid-19 restrictions.
As a result, matric learners countrywide organised private parties among their friendship circle as a substitute for a matric farewell.
The Western Cape Education Department strongly encouraged such private functions to observe the Covid-19 regulatory environment.
One such party was organised by a group of 42 learners and their parents from Brackenfell High School out of a matric class of 254.
This party had absolutely nothing to do with the school. It was fully funded and organised by the parents and pupils involved," it said.
