The outcomes of the Pretoria High School for Girls’ disciplinary hearing on allegations of racism created a fresh opportunity for a dialogue on race and racism at schools.

Education activist, Hendrick Makaneta, who welcomed the suspension of the learners accused of using racial micro-aggressions in a “whites-only” WhatsApp group chat said that discipline was never going to achieve the objective of rooting out racism in the first place.

“The country needs sober minds to unite black and white learners not only at Pretoria High School for Girls, but even elsewhere where racial tensions are felt.” said Makaneta.

The suspended learners were found not guilty by a disciplinary panel. However, the debacle did see the suspension of the school principal for three months by the Gauteng Education Department.