Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
6 December 2024 | 14:30 CAT
3 min read

The resignation of Crispin Sonn, chairperson of Bishops Diocesan College, after expressing his views on the genocide in Palestine, has ignited a fiery debate over racism and free speech in South Africa. ANC MPL Khalid Sayed has strongly condemned the incident, claiming that racism remains deeply entrenched in the Western Cape.

Khalid told Radio Islam that Sonn initially shared his views on Facebook, denouncing what he described as “genocidal actions” and standing in support of the Palestinian people during their suffering. However, his post quickly drew backlash from members of the school community, council, and alumni, with critics accusing him of being “anti-Semitic” and promoting intolerance. Despite apologising and attempting to clarify his stance, the mounting pressure made his position untenable, culminating in his resignation just weeks later.

According to Khalid, the college remained notably neutral throughout the controversy, opting for a hands-off approach. The college merely stated that they want to maintain a tradition of understanding diverse views. “It is a deep contradiction; this college claims to be a bastion of transparency and bastion of expression of views, but when you express a particular view against the apartheid state of Israel, then you are deemed to basically be anti-Semitic. This is the case in Europe; in fact, I want to be honest and say this is a sad discourse that is increasing in the Western Cape, where racists and those who support the apartheid state of Israel in its genocide are made to feel more comfortable, they’re made to feel as they are the victims,” he said.

Khalid highlighted that Bishops School, historically linked to the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, falls under the symbolic patronage of the Archbishop of Cape Town. “We all know the stance of Archbishop Desmond Tutu with regards to the struggle in Palestine; he even went further than many Muslims were prepared to go to say that it is worse than what happened during Apartheid in South Africa. They are actually going against the tradition in the school as well,” he said.

He pointed out that while all communities can have their own schools, Herzlia High School, a Jewish institution, actively recruits learners for the Israeli Defense Force.”They are pumped with a clear Zionist agenda and rhetoric, and the school is allowed to thrive in the Western Cape. We have raised the issue with the education department, and they said no, it’s a private school. The government in the province takes offence when you are critical of Herzlia,” he said.

At the same time, Khalid emphasised that learners at other schools can face reprimands simply for drawing a Palestinian flag.

He also pointed to incidents of racism in schools, citing examples such as black learners being placed in a cage and called slaves by peers at Pinelands High School. At Brackenfell High School, matric farewells have reportedly been organised exclusively for white students. He emphasised that such actions often occur without any consequences or accountability. “It is not only at schools. It is a deeper atmosphere in this province which is a problem and needs to be taken head on,” he added.

The ANC has officially raised the issue in the Western Cape provincial parliament and legislature, putting it on record. Khalid said that they are pressing the department for an intervention. However, if no action is taken, they will escalate the matter to the National Portfolio Committee on Basic Education. If that also fails, they will explore other necessary measures. “Because the National Government has taken a stance on the Palestinian-Israeli issue. We have gone to the ICJ; we have declared Israel a genocidal state,” he said.

Khalid asserts that the National Portfolio Committee must protect the rights of Crispin Sonn.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Khalid Sayed – ANC Member of the Provincial Legislature and leader of the opposition in the Western Cape government, here.