Fresh allegations of racism have surfaced at Curro Somerset West.
The parents of a 13-year-old coloured boy, are fuming after a white learner called their son a “cotton picker” in the classroom in November 2022.
James and Andrea Williams who have lived in the Unite States of America, say that term is related to slavery in the US.
They also claim that their son has been racially abused and bullied for the past seven years while attending the private school.
And added the institution has not protected their child.
It’s not the first time the school has been at the centre of racism allegations recently.
The boy’s father says he is quite frankly shocked.
“When I heard that this is what the child had referenced to my son, considering I’m from the State and he [my son] was born in the State, referring to my son as a slave. Last time I checked, slavery has been abolished for more than 150 years, but the terminology is still around”.
Meanwhile, his wife, Andrea says the school has failed her son.
“He had to endure this for the past seven years. Bullying of different forms, name and shame. The schools didn’t do enough. I have sent an email to the executive office, and aware of this. They never had decency to give me a call to ask me what they can do, now they’re aware of it”.
Curro has denied the incident and has described it as a blatant lie.
The private school says it has a zero-tolerance policy towards any racial incidents and denies that any racial incident has been swept under the carpet.
It says the matter was successfully concluded in a meeting where both parents were invited.
The school accused the mother, Andrea Williams, of acting in a vexatious manner, for reasons unknown.
But this is not the first time that Curro Somerset West has been in the spotlight for alleged racism recently.
In June 2022, a Grade nine pupil got racially-charged threats via WhatsApp from another learner. On that occasion, the school also denied the allegations.
