Separate matric dance functions at school caused outrage

Imogen Vollenhoven
20 May 2013

A decision by a school in Mpumalanga to organise two separate matric dance functions: one for its white pupils and another for its black pupils has caused outrage.

Hendrina Combined School is between Middelburg and Ermelo, Mpumalanga. Organizations expressed their dissatisfaction at the school’s decision.

Democratic Alliance’s Anthony Benade explained that the school did not have sufficient funds to arrange a matric farwell and that the white learners would be raising funds to hold their own matric farewell and if the black learners wanted to they could do the same.

Benade added that it is absolutely disgusting that 20 years into democracy there are still parents that are prepared to damage their children, learners and the relationships between the young children in such a horrific manner.

Furthermore he added that they have requested the department to education to intervene in the matter and to investigate how it is possible that such a set of circumstances could have transpired at the school.