By Umamah Bakharia

A racially motivated physically altercation broke out between a black and white learner at Hoerskool Jan Viljoen in Randfontein, in the west of Johannesburg on Friday. This led to parents and learners protesting at the school yesterday alleging racism and discrimination.

The Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi visited the school yesterday and met with learners and the school to find out what exactly had happened.

Executive Director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Neeshan Balton spoke to Radio Islam on the racial discrimination in schools.

“Given the demographics of [model C] schools are still one that you would find children of different races going to those schools, that’s where the problems are more likely to be,” says Balton.

He adds that schools are the reflection of society that stems from the behavior they adapt from their homes or social circles.

“We shouldn’t be overly shocked that we have issues of racism in this country and that it manifests- today its a school, tomorrow its a sports club ,” says Balton.

“I was injured on the arm during the incident and I didn’t receive assistance, I don’t trust this school. I am in matric and I can’t leave this school we need help,” a pupil told Lesufi.

Lesufi says the department as well as the South African Human Rights Commission will be investigating the alleged racism at the Hoerskool Jan Viljoen.

“South Africa is fundamentally a country that is still dealing with a deeply racial society, much of it from its past but a lot of it also has to do with the failure to tackle racism from 1994 onwards in a serious and a systemic way and especially within our schools,” says Balton.

None of the pupils can be identified because they are still minors.