Somerset West school apologises unreservedly for Nazi salute

TALI FEINBERG

But after meeting the Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) and the Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre, it appears that the school now understands the implications of the photograph, which was on the home page of its website.

“We apologise unreservedly to the public at large, and all groups and individuals that were victims of the Holocaust,” said Principal Morne Coetzer. “We also acknowledge that referring to the gesture as a ‘Roman salute’ was misjudged, and we apologise for the additional offence it caused.”

The school said it would educate the students in the photo – and all students – about “the offensive nature and insensitivity of the use of Nazi symbolism and imagery”. It would also ensure that students, educators, and parents undertook Holocaust education programmes at the Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre.

“Further to this, we have committed our school to join the Cape SAJBD’s ‘No Place for Hate’ campaign and to introduce its material into our school environment,” he said. “We look forward to positive engagement with both organisations in the future.”

Cape SAJBD Director Stuart Diamond said that while Jews, as the primary victims of Nazi tyranny, were particularly sensitive about displays of this nature, the incident was something that concerned all South Africans.

“With increasing racism and hatred being spread in South Africa, especially on social media, it’s incumbent on our schools to inculcate in their students – the future citizens of our country – respect for others and an avoidance of any symbols and gestures that could indicate identification with racist ideology. We are happy that after a long and productive discussion at the school, it has committed to corrective action.”