Durban Girls College investigates allegations of racism
A prominent Durban school has launched an internal investigation into allegations of racism, levelled against the school by former pupils.
Durban Girls College old girls have been speaking out on social media about their experiences in recent years.
It's believed the outcry stemmed from an email sent out by the school's Head of Student Affairs who urged pupils to use good judgement when using social media to comment on the death of George Floyd, an African American man who died in police custody.
A former pupil says people of colour feel marginalised at the school.
"Durban Girls College had a way of making people of colour feel very small and inferior. We felt displaced, alienated, isolated, and we felt like we couldn't be ourselves, and we were forced to conform because what we are was not enough."
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She hopes this wave of activism brings change to the institution.
"From what I've heard from current girls, nothing has changed, and it's still the same as it was last year."
"In my years at Durban Girls College, I have never received an apology from girls or teachers, and I don't think I have been in contacted with any people of colour in the school that have received an apology."
In a letter posted on the school's website, Executive Head, Marianne Bailey, writes that the email was a "misunderstanding" and that it "was sent with the best intentions, encouraging girls to use their voices, but at the same time allowing for the acceptance of and respect for the viewpoints of others."
