St John's, Michaelhouse derby day cancelled after alleged racial slur during hockey match

The annual sporting derby day between two of South Africa's prestigious private schools, Michaelhouse and St John's College, has been cancelled after an alleged racial incident during a fixture.

The incident, according to a joint statement released by the schools, took place during the first team hockey match between the schools on Friday evening where a Michaelhouse first-team player allegedly used a racial slur to insult a John's College opponent.

St John's College is based in Houghton Estate in Johannesburg while Michaelhouse, one of the most expensive schools in the country and the hosts for the weekend, is in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.

The statement confirmed the cancellation of the derby day because of the alleged racial slur and that the schools agreed it wasn't appropriate for the derby day to continue, while the student in question has been suspended.

"There has been an allegation that, towards the end of the First XI Hockey match between St John's College and Michaelhouse last evening (on Friday), a racist slur was made by a Michaelhouse player to a St John’s player," the statement said

"Both Michaelhouse and St John’s are united in condemning all forms of racism and discriminatory behaviour and Michaelhouse, in following its procedures, immediately implemented a precautionary suspension in respect of the boy alleged to have made the racial slur, pending a formal disciplinary hearing.

"In these circumstances, the Heads of both schools have agreed that it is not appropriate for the other hockey and rugby matches planned for today, Saturday 28 June (28 May), to take place and we have cancelled our fixtures."

Michaelhouse rector Antony Clark referred Sport24 to the statement with regards to the confirmation of the