Roedean Must Act to Remove the Stench That Now Wafts Across Its Manicured Lawns

In late nineteenth-century Europe, the Dreyfus Affair exposed how antisemitism flourished within the highest ranks of the French military, judiciary, and intellectual class, long before it erupted onto the streets. In Britain, the United States, and South Africa, Jews were for decades quietly barred from elite schools, clubs, universities, and professions through informal quotas and “character” assessments designed to preserve social homogeneity. Leading American universities openly limited Jewish admissions well into the twentieth century, while Oxbridge colleges maintained exclusionary practices under the guise of tradition.

This form of antisemitism was polite, procedural, and institutional, but no less destructive. It normalised the idea that Jews were a problem to be managed rather than citizens to be treated equally.

It is to this sordid history that Roedean School in Johannesburg has now affixed its legacy. See our report in The Common Sense yesterday.

Roedean’s recent history of flirtations with Islamist radicalisation adds further shame.

In 2023, the school appointed Ummah Heart to provide what it euphemistically called “Islamic enrichment”. Investigative reporting later showed that the organisation had circulated material promoting martyrdom and imagery widely interpreted as celebrating the Hamas attacks of 7 October. Paragliders were a prominent part of its branding, in reference to those that ferried Hamas terrorists to slaughter Jews on that date.

Terrorism and radicalisation researcher Benji Shulman has warned that radicalisation turns religion into a political weapon, divides the world into believers and enemies, and reframes violence as moral duty. In the context of a school, this is dangerous precisely because it targets young people and teaches them hate.

In Psalm 34, David said, “seek peace and pursue it”, and King David has been magnanimous in asking only for an apology.

They would have been entitled to far more, including criminal and civil charges. Other groups may now lay these charges instead, as they should. While a decision is made on whether to do so, Roedean School should take advantage of that magnanimity to clean house. The entire leadership and school board need to be removed. Failing that, the stench that wafts across that school’s manicured lawns may never be erased.