WATCH: Hillcrest High pupils speak of racism, sexism, bullying at school
Some Hillcrest High School pupils who met with KZN Education officials have spoken out about incidents of racism, sexism and bullying at the school.
It comes after five matriculants were suspended earlier this year for using racial slurs on a private WhatsApp group.
The conversation, which happened last year, was shared on other social media platforms.
READ: Hillcrest High School pupils suspended for using K and N-word
On Wednesday, in a statement, the SGB said during disciplinary hearings, the boys said they had not understood the connotation of the words used and apologised.
Newswatch sat in a meeting between the school's pupils and MEC on Thursday morning.
Emotional and angry learners told the MEC Mbali Frazer how the five schoolboys were given a seven-day suspension but were allowed to return to school after three days.
ALSO READ: MEC to visit Hillcrest High amid racism spat
The pupils claim the boys have also been involved in bullying incidents and say on one occasion, while they were protesting, they blew kisses at them.
A pupil told Frazer that the student who leaked the WhatsApp conversation was made to apologise, but the boys were never made to apologise for what they had done.
The MEC meets with learners from the school. One of whom says that the 5 were suspended for 7 days, of which, they only spent 3 at home. The students tell the MEC that they want the 5 to publicly apologise and be expelled. In the msgs released, the K-word and N-word are used. pic.twitter.com/ysDQg4VbZO
— Nushera Soodyal (@nushera) August 18, 2022
Some students have been brave enough to speak to us today… This student explains what they have felt since the messages were leaked @ECR_Newswatch pic.twitter.com/5cdWcL2qY5
— Nushera Soodyal (@nushera) August 18, 2022
The MEC heard that the boys are being protected by the school.
The pupils say they want them to publicly apologise and be expelled.
After the meeting, several pupils staged a brief anti-racism protest in the courtyard.
A few of them later went officers to the Hillcrest police station to file a complaint about the handling of the matter.
Cosas is here, Lwazi Nhlumayo says criminal charges need to be brought against the 5 learners @ECR_Newswatch pic.twitter.com/uGGNWZFwCq
— Nushera Soodyal (@nushera) August 18, 2022
MORE ON ECR
