Inside 'whites only' matric ball

 Details about the private Brakenfell High matric ball was leaked to the Daily Voice. According to the invitation that was send to the private group, the event was called the “Masquerade Ball MX’20”. It was held at Skillpadvlei Wine Farm in Stellenbosch on 17 October 2020. 

Tickets to the event was cost R500 per person and was limited to 100 people. Details about the events was shared on a private group chat called “Matrix 2020”, where several teachers were members of. Students of colour said that they were excluded from the private group chat, “We have class WhatsApp groups where information is usually shared, but it was not the case on the event which clearly shows we were meant to be excluded.”

The school governing body (SGB) and Western Cape Department of Education (WCED) both stated that it was a private event and did not include the school at all. According to the leaked seating chart, at least 4 teachers were included in the 77 seated guests. 

A video and photography company that does events for the school, uploaded a video of the event on the “Hoerskool Brackenfell High” Youtube channel. The video clearly shows students arriving at the venue. The video was later removed after having 1000 views.: “They rubbed it in our faces when they posted it on the school social media platforms, and one of the people that planned it is in the SGB. On the SGB it’s white parents only because when they elect people, they speak in Afrikaans.”, said an upset black learner. 

“There are 170 white, 50 coloured and 34 black matriculants. You want to tell me out of all these coloured and black matriculants, the white children did not have a single person they are friends with or get along with to invite to the event?”. An upset coloured learner said they were deliberately not invited. 

By Danielle Mentoor