A parent of a pupil at Stellenberg High School says she was deeply offended that awards to Grade 11 pupils at the school included a “Coconut award” and a category “Dark Knight (for the blackest person)”.
The Stellies Stars award categories also included Gangster Wannabe and GHD award (most straightened hair).
The parent said her child had also been offended by some of the categories - “… the Coconut and blackest person awards [are] inappropriate.”
School principal Theo Boonzaaier said he had been told the coconut award was based on a TV programme. As for the Dark Knight award, “I haven’t gone into that. We will have to put measures in place to make sure it (the awards) is not offensive to anyone.”
The Western Cape Education Department said it would seek clarity from the school.
Cape Argus