A 14-year-old learner at Hoërskool Die Wilgers in Pretoria is in hospital recovering from suicidal feelings after she was racially abused at school.
The Grade 8 learner was called the K-word by two white learners in May.
The girl’s father said: “My daughter told me two boys at school called her a k****r and asked me, ‘What does that mean?’ I didn’t know what to say. This happened in front of other learners, and it hit her hard because she was the only black child there.”
The father and daughter went to the school to discuss it, and the school said it would investigate.
“No one deserves this, especially in 2024. We are close to losing a child because of racism. This can’t happen,” said the father, TimesLive reported.
“She’s been in Afrikaans schools her whole life and didn’t like racial comments. She always said people are all the same. When this happened, it made her realise some children see her differently, and she had a breakdown.”
The girl became withdrawn and asked alarming questions about life and death. Her parents took her to a psychologist, who suggested she be admitted to a psychiatric hospital. She missed her June exams.
“My child is in the hospital,” her father said. “I have opened a criminal case because no one deserves this, especially in 2024. We are close to losing a child because of racism. This can’t happen.”
Raymond Saayman, the head of the school governing body, said: “This incident shocked us. It’s not how our learners usually behave. We strongly condemn any form of racism and are taking this very seriously. The disciplinary process is moving forward quickly.”
Compiled by Staff Writer
Pictured above: Hoërskool Die Wilgers.
Source: Hoërskool Die Wilgers/Facebook
