By BAKANG MOKOTO
14 August 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education said it has noted with shock and disgust social media images of the “blackface” incident involving an educator at the infamous Duineveld Hoerskool in Upington, Northern Cape.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Joy Maimela said she is utterly shocked that an educator would partake in an incident that clearly has been identified as racist behaviour. Maimane said, however, she is not surprised that racism once again poked out its ugly head at the school.
“During an oversight visit by the committee in October last year, the committee noted several exclusionary practices at the school and urged the Northern Cape Education Department (NCED) and the national Department of Basic Education to address this.
“The latest incident allegedly occurred at a school function last week and went viral on social media, triggering widespread outrage. In the video, the educator, Jaco Liebenberg, can be seen with his face painted black and wearing a black wig,” she said.
Maimela further said it’s the second incident of racism at the school in less than a year. She added that, in September last year, a video went viral of a learner repeatedly using the k-word.
“In the video, which has been seen by hundreds of thousands of people, the pupil and three others join a live TikTok chat with a man identified as content creator @UncleSeeno, calling him a “k***** and a n*****”.
“During an oversight visit late last year, we highlighted concerns that the school application forms and all its policies were, for example, only in Afrikaans,” said Maimela.
She said that it reeks of exclusionary practices for any parent not understanding the language. Maimela said by default, they are excluding any person that does not speak Afrikaans.
“The committee noted the swift action by Northern Cape MEC for Education, Abraham Vosloo by placing the implicated teacher on suspension on the understanding that the investigation will unfold free from intimidation.
“Although we commend the action, the issue is broader than this incident. During our visit, we were assured the school is undergoing social cohesion programmes for learners,” she said.
Maimela said clearly learners are not the only ones in need of such sessions. She said they will interrogate the matter further with the provincial education department to establish what progress, if any, has been made with these sessions.
The Guardian 