Selborne old boys call for change at school

A group of Selborne College old boys have formed a movement called #SelborneYeyethu, or “Selborne belongs to us too” in isiXhosa, and are calling for transformation at the school.

A group of Selborne College old boys have formed a movement called #SelborneYeyethu, or “Selborne belongs to us too” in isiXhosa, and are calling for transformation at the school.This comes after a controversial artwork by a 2017 matric pupil which caused widespread anger.

The pupil used the iconic 1976 uprising photograph of Hector Pieterson but replaced Pieterson’s body with the school’s blazer and the heads of his sister, Antoinette Sithole, and friend Mbuyisa Makhubo, who is carrying him, with the heads of dogs.

The school distanced itself from the picture, with the SGB’s Pierre Tilney saying they could not take responsibility for individual actions outside of the school. The school later issued a second statement, claiming it was from the student who had created the artwork. It withheld the pupil’s identity.

Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, #Yeyethu co-founder Usiphile Mpetsheni said their action was triggered by the picture and stories of racism and bullying that followed.

“This incident must be used as an opportunity to prioritise transformation at our school and to finally hear the voice of the marginalised,” he said. Some of their interim demands are:

lSelborne Primary to appoint a principal of colour;

lTeaching and administrative staff demographics in all Selborne schools to be revised;

lRevision of the code of conduct’s “Eurocentric standards” of dress, neatness, hymns and songs”; and

lA transformation committee.

In a collective open letter addressed to the school, #Yeyethu wrote that the recent incident was not an isolated occurrence but rather a manifestation of larger structural issues.

Mpetsheni said the plan was to open a dialogue with the SGB and establish a multiparty committee comprising SGB members, old boys and current pupils who would work together to bring change at the school.

Principal Andrew Dewar said yesterday he had no comment.

Numerous attempts to reach Tilney since Sunday have been unsuccessful. — arethal@dispatch.co.za