Suspension after race row

2003-11-10 22:50

Marlene Malan

Cape Town - A grade 9 pupil of Edgemead High School, who was arrested last week for allegedly assaulting a black fellow pupil, has been suspended pending an investigation. Her mother was also arrested on the same charge.

The department of education confirmed the girl would be allowed to write her exams elsewhere.

The 16-year-old and her mother, Sharon Ferreira, 38, from Table View have since filed a charge of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm and crimen injuria against the initial plaintiffs, Nosipho Mkhiza, 16, and her mother, Vicki.

On Thursday, Ferreira, her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend allegedly dragged Nosipho by her hair in front of the school, kicked and hit her and stabbed her in the cheek with a key because Nosipho apparently stood up for a coloured fellow pupil.

The Ferreiras were arrested early on Friday morning after the Mkhizes laid a charge with police. The Ferreiras appeared in Goodwood magistrate's court that day.

Ferreira was released on R1 000 bail and her daughter into her father's custody. The case was postponed to November 28.

Wrote her exam at the school

Rudi Buys, spokesperson for Western Cape MEC for education André Gaum, said a psychologist was scheduled to speak to Nosipho and her sister, Lindy, at the school on Monday afternoon.

On Tuesday, top officials of the department would discuss a report into the alleged racism incident.

Lindy Mkhize said her sister wrote her English exam at the school on Monday, although she was given the chance to write it elsewhere.

"It is a very stressful time for her, but she is courageous and is handling the situation well."

Vicki Mkhize said the attack on her daughter would not make her see all whites in the same light: "Some of the biggest support I have been getting is from an Afrikaans friend."

Rose Sonto, senior African National Congress official and a close friend of the Mkhizes, said several racial problems had cropped up at the school previously.

"The school is a race-fiasco. Although I have not experienced any racism problems in Monte Vista, where I stay, in the past five years, it is a different matter at the school.

After last Thursday's incident, we, as black parents, decided to stand together. We will no longer pretend that nothing is wrong."

Police superintendent Riaan Pool confirmed that both cases were under investigation and that several statements still had to be taken down from witnesses. The case would then be referred to the director of public prosecutions.

- Die Burger