WATCH: Learners on bus sing prison taal
VIRAL: Video of Astra Primary pupils singing on school bus VIRAL: Video of Astra Primary pupils singing on school bus
A Video of little children singing in sabela (prison gang language) in a school bus has gone viral on social media.
And the Daily Voice can reveal that the kids are learners from Astra Primary School in Bloemendal, Bethelsdorp, near Port Elizabeth.
In the 22-second video which was posted on Facebook earlier this month, excited children can be seen in a packed bus.
A woman who appears to be a teacher, dressed in a black T-shirt with the school’s name on it, asks the children: “As ons sing, gaan ons na mekaar luister ne?”
To which the kids respond: “ Ja, juffrou.”
She then does a countdown and the entire bus erupts in song, singing to the tune of a Barney the Dinosaur song: “I love you. You love me. We’re a happy family, with a mes and a gun and a sakkie bubblegum, hosh pagamisa for everyone.”
Pagamisa is a Xhosa word meaning “raise your hands” and is commonly used in sabela.
The Daily Voice contacted Astra Primary for comment but was referred to the Eastern Cape Education Department.
SPOTLIGHT: The PE school
However, the school released a statement on their Facebook page, claiming the teacher did not know the words to the song.
“Earlier this week, a video surfaced on social media about a teacher telling children on a bus to sing a song. This video went viral,” the statement said.
VIDEO: Supplied
“Unfortunately we do not see what happened after this video. The teacher was shocked by the words of this ‘song’, which she did not teach them, and she told them to refrain from singing these words ever again.
“Please make people aware of the real facts behind this viral video, so that we can use this experience to create awareness of things our children can pick up from unlikely sources.
“Our children can learn bad language from us, from family members and friends, because their minds are like sponges.”
But one parent said the school is covering up for the teacher.
Responding to the Facebook post, Jody said: “This teacher does not in the least seem shocked in any way shape or form, she seems to be entertaining the song.”
Another woman, Claudia, also rubbished the statement, posting: “How can a whole bus of kids know how to change the words just like that? Do you think we are stupid?”