STATEMENT BY BRETT HERRON, GOOD SECRETARY-GENERAL AND MEMBER OF THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL PARLIAMENT
20 NOVEMBER 2020
Western Cape MEC for Education is out of her depth and should step down. For the past 10 days, since the first scenes of violence relating to alleged racism at Brackenfell High School, instead of intervening to calm the situation, she has fiddled and left anger and posture to rise to the boil.
What we are dealing with in Brackenfell is a chronic failure of adult leadership. This extends from the MEC to the DA-led provincial government, and to all involved in inciting conflict, responding with violence and defending racism.
The constitution protects us from racial discrimination. It is shocking that Schafer is unable to acknowledge the racist attitudes that led to the Brackenfell school pupils arranging a whites-only matric ball event.
The EFF has every right to be outraged, though not to resort to inciting racism, itself.
The MEC and Brackenfell High School principal have a duty to every matric learner, not just white learners. Their duty is to protect them from racial discrimination and not to sanction discrimination as a private matter. Our constitution does not provide for private racism.
There are racial tensions enough in post-apartheid South Africa. We need mature leaders, not experts in polarisation.
Upholding the constitution is more important than the DA’s strategy not to alienate white voters at any cost.
Schafer has no business being in government at all, let alone leading the development of the next generation of children.
Adult protestors, adult educators, adult parents and adult politicians have failed young people today and over the past ten days. Schafer must be the first to go.
Ends…