Cape Town - German expats in Cape Town got a Nazi fright when they noticed this street sign.
The board, which reads “German School” and gives directions to the German International School Cape Town in Tamboerskloof, depicts a teacher making what looks to be a Nazi salute, to students.
One German Facebook user, who saw the lighter side of the unfortunate sign, took a picture of the board in Kloof Nek Road and posted it on Facebook.
The woman, who asked not to be named, quipped: “So apparently these are the governmental signs for private school ... they obviously add the respective names on the sign before putting them up. And the teacher is clearly pointing at the blackboard. But with the German school’s name to it ... it clearly becomes something else. I find it funny too... very funny actually!”
She added: “I find it mind-blowing that the city puts it up and doesn’t see that it’s clearly not the right sign in combo with the ‘German school’ next to it. and further that the German school hasn’t
corrected it”
The City of Cape Town insists there is no link between the sign and the infamous salute used by Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany.
According to Area North Mayco member, Suzette Little, the symbol is the recognised road signage standard as specified by the National Road Traffic Act and Road Traffic Regulations.
“The figurine represents a teacher pointing to a board in front of a class of learners. The symbols used in SADC RTSM were workshopped and agreed to by the various national and stakeholders, prior to inclusion in the manual.”
She says the City has not received any complaints about this particular sign.
Alexander Kirmse, Headmaster of the German International School Cape Town says they previously asked for the sign to be changed.
“But the fact is that this is not our sign, it is the official sign for schools. Previously the City has been approached by the former headmaster with a request to change the sign, but to no avail. The matter has not been taken further by us as we feel we cannot expect them to change an official sign just for us.”