Zorena Jantze
A TEACHER at the Hillside Christian College in Walvis Bay has been suspended with immediate effect following racially discriminatory comments on social media.
The woman, identified as Corien Steenkamp, was employed as a Grade 2 teacher’s assistant at the coastal school.
Steenkamp on Sunday, 7 June, made racists comments on the post about two white suspects who are amongst 4 others implicated in the killing of a 43-year-old Zimbabwean street vendor at the Savemore Etemba Plaza Supermarket in Otjiwarango.
“I wonder if the situation was the other way around; would there still be an outrage or media coverage?” Steenkamp wrote on social media after the arrest of Jonathan Patrick Myburgh and Jannie Jansen van Vuuren.
She further added that ‘civilization is not made for blacks and the Bible is not written for blacks. “Let that sink into your rotten smelly mouth, go back to the bush and eat your rotten food like your forefathers” an irate Steenkamp continued.
When queried further on the subject by another Facebook user, Steenkamp responded with “show me one invention from Africa. If whites didn’t arrive in Africa, you would still sit under a bush, looking at the moon and wonder if there is a way to get faster.”
In an interview, Principal of Hillside Christian College, Wilma De Sousa, stated that upon discovering Steenkamp’s unbecoming remarks, the school, together with assistance from its legal advisors, decided to suspend Steenkamp with immediate effect.
De Sousa added that Steenkamp will have a formal disciplinary hearing this Friday, 12 June, where she will be charged with unlawful conduct and behaviour that is damaging to her employer.
She added that after this, the next course of action for the beleaguered teacher would most probably be dismissed, as the school does not wish to associate itself with any racist ideologies.
Queried whether this is the first time Steenkamp has engaged in hate speech and whether or not the school is aware of her discriminatory utterances, De Sousa said that she was shocked to learn of the incident.
“From the school’s side, I’ve never heard her speak ill. Her conduct was never racist during her teaching. I teach in a classroom that’s right next to hers, and there were no complaints,” De Sousa said.
The private school on its social media page further condemned Steenkamps racial remarks stating.
“This institute condemns any utterances placing any race, colour, or people group at a higher or lower level or position and we want to distance ourself from such hate speech. We believe and teach that we are all created equal before God. We, together with our legal advisers are currently dealing with the situation, and the process will be fair, just, and professional,” the school said, adding “We hereby deeply regret the offence caused and wish to apologise for the harm it’s done in our community, nation, and the world at large.”
Sunny Imalwa, the 27 year old Namibian woman who was on the receiving end of the racist remarks, stated that she will not be opening a criminal case against Steenkamp.
She said that she is happy that the issue was brought to light and that the school took the necessary action.
Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Sebastian Ndeitunga, stated that racially discriminatory remarks destabilise peace and harmony in a country and brings with it a risk to national security.
“We should condemn this type of remarks. Although the victim in the incident does not want to open a case, I applaud Hillside Christian School for the necessary steps it is taking on the issue,” Ndeitunga said.
