Cape Forum Issues Strong Condemnation of K-Word Video
Cape Town – The Cape Forum has conveyed its profound disappointment and concern regarding a video that has surfaced on social media, depicting a young (coloured) girl making a racist comment towards (black) fellow students.
“We firmly condemn this behavior,” stated Heindrich Wyngaard, Chairperson of the Cape Forum, on Monday, 25 August 2025.
“We acknowledge that the incident took place at Knysna High School in the Southern Cape.
“This is a community where the Cape Forum is actively involved in safety initiatives.”
The Cape Forum expressed its appreciation for the transparency exhibited by the principal, Mark Mosdell, in addressing the situation, particularly in the letter he sent to parents and learners. In this letter, he denounced any form of racism.
“Our organization is committed to fostering mutual respect and recognizing South Africa’s diverse cultural landscape,” Wyngaard emphasized.
“We cannot condone or justify any act of disrespect or racism – irrespective of who commits it – from one group towards another.
“When the alleged offense involves the use of the k-word by a learner, it must be addressed with the utmost seriousness and gravity.”
Wyngaard stated that the primary focus of the Cape Forum is education.
He mentioned that the organization plans to approach the school with a proposal to conduct workshops for senior students aimed at enhancing their cultural sensitivity.
The Cape Forum believes that simply condemning the incident is insufficient; proactive measures must also be taken.
“Our greatest concern is that this will be viewed as an isolated incident, while racist sentiments may actually persist among a larger number of learners,” Wyngaard noted.
“We are also troubled by the source of the learner’s remark and urge the entire school community – learners, parents, educators, staff, and local leaders – to contribute to this educational effort.”
He emphasized that the educational mission of the Cape Forum involves tackling racial prejudice and promoting social cohesion at all societal levels.
“This is particularly significant as we approach the upcoming Heritage Month celebrations.”
