Latest news with #Vosloo
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Northern Cape educator faces backlash after ‘blackface' incident
An educator at Duineveld High School in Upington has been placed on precautionary suspension. Image: Social media / X (Twitter) A Northern Cape high school teacher who sparked outrage after a video surfaced of him at an apparent team-building event wearing a curly wig and with his face painted black has been placed on precautionary suspension. The incident follows an unrelated matter in which a pupil from the same school, Duineveld High School, repeatedly used K-words in a TikTok video in September 2024. The Northern Cape Education MEC, Abraham Vosloo, who met with the school principal and school governing body (SGB) on Wednesday, announced that the precautionary suspension of the teacher would come into immediate effect to protect the integrity of the investigation. 'It will ensure that it is conducted without bias or interference. Whether the incident was unintentional or not … a non-racial society begins in the classroom and requires the active participation of every one of us,' said Vosloo. He said that the head of labour relations in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, Aone Leboko, would lead the inquiry. 'We call on all staff members and learners at Duineveld High School to co-operate with the investigator to ensure that all facts are uncovered and justice is served. Upon conclusion of the investigation, a comprehensive report will be submitted to the acting district director. A final decision will be made once the details and findings are properly considered.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Vosloo reiterated that the department did not tolerate any form of racial discrimination. 'It is deeply regrettable that we once again find ourselves addressing the issue of racism in our schools, nearly a year since a similar incident confronted us at Duineveld High School. 'The latest 'blackface' incident has triggered widespread outrage from the public, political organisations and civil society. Most concerning is the deep division that this has caused within the broader Upington community. It is our collective responsibility, as educators, parents, learners and citizens, to confront racism wherever it appears and to ensure that our schools remain spaces of dignity, respect and equality.' Vosloo emphasised that racism in schools had 'far-reaching and harmful consequences'. 'It undermines the psychological well-being of pupils, often leaving them feeling isolated, devalued or unsafe. It also disrupts the learning environment and affects academic performance. If left unresolved, racism erodes the core values of the education system, damages the credibility of educators and risks fostering intolerance and prejudice in future generations.' Both the school governing body (SGB) chairperson, Phillip Nagel, and the provincial secretary of the Suid-Afrikaanse Onderwysunie (South African Teachers Union), Henk Brand, who is representing the implicated teacher, said they would co-operate with the investigation. The executive mayor of the Dawid Kruiper Municipality, David Kazi, urged that the school be closed as a show of 'zero tolerance for racist behaviour'. He added that the blackface incident had left pupils of colour feeling 'degraded, disrespected and unwelcome' at a school that was supposed to be a sanctuary. Kazi stressed that racism had to be eradicated from educational institutions and communities.
The Citizen
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Ballito skaters bring the heat to O'Neill Ballito Bowl Skate Jam
The 2025 O'Neill Ballito Bowl Skate Jam delivered an electrifying showcase of South African skateboarding talent on Saturday. Cape Town's Thalente Biyela (31) and Ballito local Ezra Vosloo (14) claimed top honors in their respective divisions. Two-time Olympian and four-time South African champion skater Brandan Valjalo (26) won Best Trick, while Vosloo won Best Grom Trick in front of a boisterous home crowd. Ballito's Kalvyn Mac Millan – a two-time Open champion – finished second. Biyela, a Durban Beach Park original, made a name for himself in the Mother City, but he is still a home favourite. 'I really loved the atmosphere. Having all the locals showing support was so amazing. I spent many years here, so it feels like a second home,' he said. Biyela, whose journey from street skater to professional athlete was captured in the award-winning documentary I Am Thalente, featuring Tony Hawk, was impressed with the level of competition and enjoyed skating against the girls. 'It was great seeing all the young new talent coming up. Seeing the progression from the past few events is absolutely mind-blowing. 'Competing alongside some of the younger girls just made it an all-around incredible experience. I'm so stoked to have been a part of it all. Looking forward to next year,' he added. As well as winning the Groms U16 division and best trick, Vosloo finished third in the Open division. 'I've worked really hard for this, skating as much as I can. It has been a goal of mine for a while to be placed in the top three with all the legendary South African skaters,' he said. Valjalo competed in the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics, the World Skate Championships and the World Cup Series. He won the African Championship title at Ultimate X in 2017, crediting his street skating ability for winning the trick competition. 'I incorporated one of the street obstacles into the bowl and came through with a kickflip manual, all the way around and dropped down 50 into the bowl for the first trick,' he said. OSP Events Co. founder Markus Müseler said it was another great event. 'The skating was epic! The crowd was incredible and the vibe was amazing,' said Müseler. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
