‘Racist Teacher’: SAHRC Meets Crawford College Principal

Pretoria – The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) met the principal of Crawford International College as part of its probe into racist behaviour displayed by a teacher.

RELATED: Crawford International Pretoria College Fires ‘Racist Teacher’ – The Bulrushes

The meeting on Friday follows the release of a video of a substitute Grade 8 English teacher writing racist terms on a whiteboard during a lesson. 

In the video, learners can be heard complaining about the conduct of the teacher.

At the meeting, the SAHRC said it was advised that the teacher was a substitute teacher who had been given a temporary role the previous week and that she was immediately dismissed from her role following the release of the video. 

The school immediately condemned the teacher’s conduct and offered an unreserved apology to learners, parents, the greater schooling community, and the rest of the country for the hurt caused. 

The school also immediately worked together with the Gauteng Department of Basic Education and the MEC, to address the matter, with the Department releasing a statement detailing actions taken and the cooperation provided by the school.

An investigation has also been undertaken by the South African Council of Educators (SACE).

Crawford International College and the SAHRC have broadly agreed to the following:

• The SAHRC will lend its assistance through its advocacy mandate to conduct workshops at the school on equality, in addition to the school’s existing Respect Diversity Inclusion programme;

• As part of its advocacy intervention, the SAHRC will provide the College with access to its teaching toolkits for use within the school’s diversity programme; 

• The SAHRC said it will offer mediation and negotiation services to the school and its immediate stakeholders if required to help facilitate the resolution of any issues or areas that need to be reviewed.

• The SAHRC will request the investigative report from SACE.

Crawford International College Executive Principal Ms. Naidoo said her school was grateful for the participation, support, and valuable input from the SAHRC.