South Africa

Vryburgh High

24 minutes

November 2001

00:03:20:20 (Presenter introduces program - Anneliese Burgess) Hello and welcome to another Special Assignment thank you for joining us, I am Anneliese Burgess. Four years ago Vryburg high school in the North west Province hit the headlines with stories of racial violence among learners. A former whites only school at the time the integration process seemed doomed. Vryburg High School in a way became symbol of a New South Africa that wasn’t quite working out the way we’d hoped. Today all over South Africa another set of matriculants is preparing to face adult life, we returned to Vryburg and joined the class of 2001 as they were getting ready for their matric dance. We wanted to see what changes they’d been over the past 4 years at the school and among the learners. 00:04:05:03

Kids arriving for the braai

00:04:05:23 (Voice over) - At Vryburg High School it’s the end of the year...time for the final exams and the matric dance. Four years ago this school hit the headlines with scenes of racial violence that shocked the country. 00:04:31:06 Now the last group of learners who were present when the conflict started are about to matriculate. Special Assignment decided to visit the school, to see how things are going. 00:04:45:04 We spent the day with two boys, Kobus Erasmus and Dumile Mabuya both of them are prefects in the class of 2001. It’s the night before the matric dance, the farewell braai for the teachers and students. 00:05:02:10

00:05:09:07 (Programme title) Kobus…and Dumile. 00:05:17:12

00:05:21:20 (Bell rings) (Sub-titled-a report by Sara Blecher) 00:05:26:00

MORNING

00:05:26:10 (Voice over) It’s quarter to six on the morning of the matric dance...Both Kobus Erasmus and Dumile Mabuya come from the platteland. So they stay in the hostel. Dumile came to Vryburg High School get a good education. He comes from Ganyesa 70 kilometers away and the schools there aren’t very good. He arrived in Vryburg right in the middle of the violence… 00:05:52:07

UPS DUMILE - 00:05:53:00

At first it was hard to mix with the white people you know…it was really tough because I didn’t know a thing about a white mans culture, now I know a lot of things about them. In 1999 we used to fight with them…yeah…we used to fight with them but I changed because I thought if we communicate with these people why should we fight you know because we came here for education why should we fight?

OUT DUMILE - 00:06:14:16

00:06:14:19 - (Teacher and Kobus in Kobus’s room)

00:06:25:03 (Voice over) Kobus's family are cattle farmers. They live on a farm in the Nolopo area…on the Botswana border. 00:06:30:06

UPS KOBUS - 00:06:30:02

(Subtitled translations) I live on a farm and all of our workers are blacks and I think we get on well. We who are from the farms, and grew up with them, get along better with blacks than those who live in town.

OUT KOBUS - 00:06:47:15

 

BREAKFAST

00:06:52:02 (Voice over) With many of the white boys speaking Tswana… race relations certainly seem to have improved at the hostel. But by breakfast it becomes clear that while there’s no longer racial violence… there isn’t much mixing either. 00:07:04:12

UPS DUMILE ABOUT BREAKFAST - 00:07:09:11

When I came there it was like here is a table for blacks and I had to sit there and then the white students would sit apart from us. So I think we have to abide by the laws but I don’t know what’s going…I mean I found things like that and you cannot change them.

OUT DUMILE - 00:07:27:11 (Teacher praying)

(Students going to class and Dumile walking to class)

00:07:41:23 (Voice over) After breakfast it’s off to class. Even though this is the day of their matric dance… the twelfth graders still have to attend school - at least in the morning...00:07:51:14

00:07:53:12 (Voice over) Vryburg High School is dual medium. This means that the school maintains two separate – and very different – streams. One English and one Afrikaans. 00:08:03:04

00:08:05:01 (Voice over) In Dumile's class there are no white learners and most of his teachers are black. 00:08:09:15

00:08:19:14 (Voice over) All of Kobus's teachers are white, as are his classmates… with the exception of a few coloured kids. 00:08:24:21

00:08:32:12 (Voice over) Vryburg is a small town in the north west of the country… right on the edge of the Kalahari. The area relies heavily on cattle farming and the people live close to nature…which in Vryburg, is harsh. Because it’s so close to the desert there’s virtually no rain. It’s an environment that leaves little room for mistakes, and there have been plenty of those. 00:08:58:09

00:09:00:05 (Voice over) Apart from this the people are hardworking and hospitable. They love their church, their language and their children...

But ...hanging around the neck of the town is the albatross of racism...00:09:15:03

00:09:18:12 - HISTORY - music ominous .. a bad thing happening ...

(Voice over) - In February 1998 a group of white parents descended on the school… armed with shambocks. With their children safely locked in their classrooms… the parents went on the rampage. They beat and assaulted black students… many of whom had to crawl through broken windows to escape.

PAUSE

(Voice over) - Most white parents believed this was the only way to protect their children. And sort out the racial tension at the school. Earlier the (Voice over) - Principal had been taken hostage and fighting among learners had become so bad that many felt it was only a matter of time before someone was killed. No one was killed but the attack by the parents made matters worse. The war between white and black students escalated…filtering both into town and the township…then the final straw a white boy was stabbed at school by his black classmate Andrew Babeile (visuals of students with cardboards). After this the situation deteriorated so badly that the school had to be closed. Vryburg High School had become synonymous with the racial violence of the small platinum towns of the North West. (Visuals of police cars parked) 00:10:51:02

00:10:54:08 (Voice over) But all this was several years ago.

Today the former principal is gone… along with his (all-white) governing body. The new Principal is Dr Dries du Toit. His believes in strict Christian discipline and fairness… values many believe have helped turn the school around. His deputy is black… Mr. Mandlenkosi Fuleni. His transfer to the school two years ago was met with much hostility from many of the whites...00:11:22:07

UPS FULENI – 00:11:22:24

As a person who is working with people when you are ignored you know you can feel it. You are being ignored and it’s as simple as that and it can hurt you very much.

OUT FULENI - 00:11:35:03

00:11:36:12 – (Voice over) Two years later Fuleni has managed to stamp his authority on the school. He has good relations with all the learners both black and white who respect him enormously. 00:11:46:10

UPS KOBUS 00:11:46:24

(Translations subtitled) Mr Fuleni also made a difference. His way with the white children…look how they respect him. Take last night for example. We like him very much.

OUT KOBUS 00:11:58:13

00:11:59:20 (Voice over) Part of the credit for these changes must go to Dr du Toit. He arrived at the school from George at the beginning of the year. For him the solution was simple. It’s all a matter of fairness and strict discipline... 00:12:12:08

UPS DUTOIT ON DISCIPLINE – 00:12:13:09

I must say I am a bit of a disciplinarian. I like discipline. I believe it is the foundation of education. Without discipline you can't teach. And from day one I set the borders…what I will allow and what I won’t

OUT DU TOIT - 00:12:29:22

00:12:33:04 (Voice over) Another step that Dr du Toit has taken… is to ban politics on the school premises...00:12:39:02

UPS DUTOIT – Politics – 00:12:40:02

(Translations subtitled) - The problem I have with politics at this school,…is that immediately you have separate groups…and groups in a school like Vryburg is very dangerous. I don't allow groups and…I don't allow politics. I will allow religious groups but no politics.

OUT DU TOIT 00:12:58:12

UPS KOBUS – 00:12:58:22

(Translations subtitled) - I think it will reopen old wounds. It will reignite the anger. We are not allowed to…we are taught to forget. It has a huge impact on the…success of the school this year.

OUT KOBUS - 00:13:19:03

00:13:20:00 – Visuals of students lying on the grass.

00:13:20:20 (Voice over) - While this approach works for the white learners it’s more complicated for black learners. Many of them felt the blows of the shambocks on their backs...00:13:29:11

UPS DUMILE…LAWN SCENE - 00:13:30:15

I mean since the first time I got to this school…19…1999 I saw what kind of person are there in Vryburg high. They don’t like…they push you around you know, I mean I will never like a white person because they don’t like us.

OUT DUMILE - 00:13:48:13

00:13:48:21 (Female student) – I also hate them I hate white people very much. Especially here in Vryburg.

UPS DUMILE – 00:13:59:06

Most of them who are sitting on the lawn are the matrics. I won’t say most of them are really glad to be leaving Vryburg High this year. They’ve had enough of beatings, enough of violence everything. The Standard six they really enjoy the school. I would not to say that we have to tell them about what happened really on 1999 because we don’t actually speak about these things. Some of them were beaten and speaking about that they have to remember those incidents you know and that makes them sad.

OUT DUMILE - 00:14:30:02

ARCHIVE MATERIAL

00:14:30:16 (Voice over) - This sadness came to the fore earlier this year. The parents involved in the shambocking incident were acquitted in court.

PAUSE

Many black people felt that this judgement flew in the face of all the changes that were taking place at the school. Especially since Andrew Babiela, the black student who stabbed his classmate, was still in jail...00:14:50:19

 

UPS FULENI - (ABOUT THIS INCIDENT) – 00:14:51:15

Now that was one of the day when it seemed you know like…like you know something very terrible has happened. You know I could quote it to the recent attacks on the world trade center you know people after that were gloomy and so on and so on. That was almost…you know…a situation like that but even most importantly people were very angry.

OUT FULENI - 00:15:16:16

00:15:16:21 – (Voice over) - The morning after the verdict, three learners came to du Toit with a list of demands. They wanted to join the protest march...00:15:24:07

UPS DU TOIT – 00:15:25:00

(Translations subtitled) – Naturally, as the school principal…I don’t allow demands at my school…so they put in a request. There was a lot of reaction in town about the school principal…who dared to allow the children to participate in the protest. But I think those people didn’t understand. Today I am so glad I did it. It was a watershed decision because it…immediately shifted the conflict situation, to where it belonged.

OUT DU TOIT - 00:15:59:11

00:16:01:10 – (Voice over) - Dumile himself wasn't part of this group ... neither was he at Vryburg High on the day of the shambocking ...

Kobus wasn't at school either that day. He was in hospital for a rugby injury. But his father was there. In fact his father was among the group of parents who came to the school... (visuals of change of classes at school)

UPS KOBUS – 00:16:30:19

(Translations subtitled) – The parents’ reaction…I think it had to happen in a way…to prevent worse things from happening. If they didn’t do it worse things might have happened. (teacher and learners) I was also scared. Anyone would’ve been scared…if they say to you, tomorrow…there will be protests…the school will be closed…you just see police around the school…you get scared. You don’t know what to expect.

OUT KOBUS – 00:17:06:14

00:17:10:13 – (Voice over) - But that was then. Now that the situation has improved at the school Kobus is upbeat about the future of the country...00:17:17:05

UPS KOBUS – 00:17:17:18

I’ll stay here forever. I think there are a lot of opportunities in South Africa. We just don’t see them. Everyone is fleeing. But if everyone stood together…it could be one of the better countries in the world. (Freeze)

OUT KOBUS – 00:17:30:12

00:17:30:15 - (Voice over) - After graduating Kobus hopes to become an accountant...00:17:35:04

 

FREEZE DUMILE –

00:17:36:07- (Voice over) - Dumile's dream is to become an air steward...00:17:38:24

(Picture moves)

00:17:39:26 - (Voice over) - In the meantime their current concern is the dance, which is taking place tonight...00:17:45:12

Teacher addresses students about matric dance – 00:17:45:24

…matric dance lets see if you guys have prepared yourselves. Dumile by the way who is your partner.

Dumile: Boitshoko

Teacher: Oh Boitshoko…who is in…okay. Quite a nice girl hey.

(Dumile looking happy and confident) 00:18:04:21

AD BREAK – (00:18:04:23 – 00:18:14:02)

HAIRDO SCENE

00:18:15:16 - (Voice over) - Back at the hostel Kobus and his friends are getting themselves ready. Kobus and Pete (pronounced Pietie) have agreed to highlight their friend Boeta's hair. 00:18:24:02

00:18:31:21 - (Pete, Kobus and Boeta) – (Subtitled translations)

Boeta : As soon as we get out of the car…

Kobus : They are going to take a photo of us.

Pete : I hope you are photogenic Boeta.

Boeta : I am very photogenic.

Pete : Like you look now...yes. 00:18:46:23

KOBUS ARRIVING AT HAIRDRESSER

00:18:47:00 - (Voice over) - From here Kobus goes to meet his mom who’s just had her hair done. (Translations subtitled) Happy the day has arrived, yes? 00:18:50:22

00:18:54:00 – (Kobus and mother)

Kobus: Are you done ma?

Ma: I’m done…does it look nice enough? (His date for the dance... his old friend Trudy... is also there.)

Trudes is looking beautiful isn’t she?…even though it’s not done.

Kobus: Are you still going to be long? 00:19:09:03

00:19:13:02 – (Voice over) - Trudy and friend

This dance is the biggest event on Vryburg’s social calendar. In town all the salons are having their busiest day... every one is getting ready for tonight...00:19:22:21

Trudie, friend and hairdresser

Boxer is taking us…With his car…Trudie, you must keep this head still now…Ag Trudie, I just can’t wait.

00:19:34:01

UPS DUMILE GETTING HAIR DONE - 00:19:34:16

If you want to date a white girl she will never say yes because her parents they are not gonna allow her to go with you, maybe she will be willing to go with you but on the other side of the racism she will never go.

OUT DUMILE – 00:19:52:07

00:19:52:22 - (Voice over) - Tonight Dumile isn't dating a white girl. He’s taking Boitshoko (said Bitchoko) Maselo. Across town she is getting dressed with some of her friends…00:20:00:22

Over Boitchoko

00:20:02:23 – (voice over) Boitshoko is a little shy. But her friend Prudence isn’t. Like Dumile, she’s a prefect. 00:20:07:23

 

Girls talking while dressing up

“Yes we need a big difference because I was there when everything started, now everything has just ended.” “Yeah it’s our 5th year at Vryburg high school. 00:20:18:16

00:20:19:00 – (Prefect) – Yes I do love the school I think it’s going to be one of the best…it is now the best schools but it’s going to be the best. But hatred I don’t have any hatred or maybe I am not hurt about it. I think I loved the experience it taught me a lot that it doesn’t matter what color you are if you want to make it in life you can make it. I mean when we arrived there they didn’t think that a black person can succeed but now they can see that we can succeed, we can make it. 00:20:43:13

OVER GETTING STRAPS DONE – 00:20:45:07

(Voice over) - We asked the girls where they'd bought their dresses.

GIRLS TALKING ABOUT DRESSES - 00:20:48:04

The girl who designed my dress I told her just look at my body and do something about it because I have no idea what to wear, I just want to wear something sexy but I have no idea about the design. It’s not about the dress it’s about how it suits you. I know I have what it takes and I trust my body. (girls laugh) .…after having dinner there is going to be music, all the adults leave and the young ones stay behind. (more laughter) 00:21:17:11

UPS DUMILE DRESSING - 00:21:18:01

(Friend) - This guy is my best friend so we had to choose something more or less the same, we had to arrange with the manager of goods and he told us …we will order something for you guys…both of you so he brought this. We are actually the first ones to wear these shoes in Vryburg. You think so…maybe someone bought them. No we don’t have to doubt. I can call you King Moswati today. No problem, today must be the happiest day of our…our experience in the school. 00:21:59:08

Over Kobus dressing up

00:21:59:11 Kobus’s parents have driven all the way from their farm… and rented a room for the day. Kobus joins them here to get dressed. Unlike most other high schools, at Vryburg parents also attend the dance.

UPS KOBUS – 00:22:18:08

(Subtitled translations) – People from the platteland are very close to their parents (mother gives him present). They like doing things together and it’s nice having your parents there. It makes them proud to think that’s our kid. I think it’s a good tradition. 00:22:34:00

00:22:34:12 – (voice over) - It's 5PM... Finally time to fetch the girls... 00:22:38:00

KOBUS GETS TRUDY

UPS KOBUS – 00:22:37:09

Kobus: Hello sir, how are you?

Dad: They’re still upstairs getting dressed.

Kobus: Wow, that’s beautiful! Dangerously beautiful.

Trudy: Thank you.

Kobus: Here’s a small gift too.

Trudy: You also look nice. 00:23:06:08 – (OVER FREEZE)

00:23:05:11 - (voice over) - Meantime in a house across town...00:23:09:18

GOING OFF TO THE CAR

00:23:29:05 - (voice over) - Dr du Toit arranged a driver to take Dumile and his date to the dance. He said he didn't want his prefects arriving on foot ... 00:23:38:06

(People screaming and waving) - UPS Dumile - 00:23:44:15

“When I get to the ball I am going to walk tall so everyone can see me. Do you think we’ll be the first ones to get there? I don’t know.” It was really great that the driver was a white person. I was thinking wow what are they going to think at the matric farewell when they see that this man is arriving with a white driver. It was quite nice actually. Actually I want to thank Mr du Toit for what he did for me. 00:24:12:03

00:24:12:06 – (voice over) - Being the biggest event on the Vryburg social calendar... everyone in the town shows up to watch the matrics arriving. The highlights in Boeta’s hair have turned out well…and then Dumile arrives.

His parents are also there to watch their son...When Antoinette's date fails to show up...Dumile's friend Tshepo finds himself escorting two partners...

And then Kobus arrives... under the ever-watchful eye of Dr du Toit… and his father and mother. 00:25:03:15

(Subtitled translations) – You all look so fucking great! I’m sorry to swear like that. There’s no other way to describe it. 00:25:17:04

Lots of chatting between every learner.

00:25:23:13 - (Subtitled translations) – My feet hurt from standing so long. And I itch all over. My body is itching from the clothes. Me too my shirt is scratching me. 00:25:36:15

BEGINNING OF CEREMONY - DUMILE SITS NEXT COUPLE ARRIVES...

00:26:03:08 - (voice over) - Being at the dance brings back memories for Dr du Toit… of his own school dance. 00:26:10:14

UPS DU TOIT – 00:26:10:17

There was a girl that I adored, but I didn’t have the courage to ask her. Her mother asked if I would go with her. It was a time when girls were on pedestals, and you could only look at them, and not touch or talk to them. OUT DU TOIT - 00:26:29:17

00:26:30:01 – (voice over) - For Mr. Fuleni it brings back memories of a different kind. He matriculated during the student uprising of the late 70s… and never had a matric dance. 00:26:37:22

UPS FULENI - 00:26:38:09

The school that I attended when…when we were in matric went on a strike on the 29th of July and the department summarily closed it down. Coming from a person who didn’t have one who would do their level best to convince them that they should really go out there and enjoy themselves.

OUT FULENI - 00:27:02:01

Music, dancing and jiving.

UPS DUMILE – 00:27:06:23

I think people change actually, they can change especially next year. Since I have seen Mr du toit has changed a lot of things this year. So next year I think his going to be doing a lot of things again then they will definitely change.

OUT DUMILE – 00:27:21:16

UPS KOBUS – 00:27:22:21

(Subtitled translations) – I think I’ll be very proud of school…of what we achieved this year. It taught us a lot and made us more grown-up. We got to know more people and I think it prepared us better for the future.

OUT KOBUS - 00:27:36:12

Freeze picture and end credits.

Camera – RICHARD DAVIES

Sound – LINCOLN KUTOANE

2ND Crew – Camera – BYRON TAYLOR

Producer – MPHO MOAGI

Video editor – HANNES VAN VUUREN

Final Mix – HENLEY POST PRODUCTION

Translations – DIMAKATSO RAPHOTO/CHEVON ERASMUS

Narration – VANNESSA COOKE

Produced by – SARA BLECHER

00:28:07:24

OUTRO: ANNELIESE BURGESS – 00:28:08:22

That’s our program for this week, next week we take a look at a topic that for many of you is a very emotional one, farm murders. So until then from me Anneliese Burgess and the rest of the team it’s goodbye for now.

00:28:21:17

End credits. 00:28:50:14