JOHANNESBURG, Jan.10 (Xinhua) -- A teacher who allegedly separated a group of primary school pupils based on their race at Schweizer-Reneke school has been placed on suspension, says a North West Province official on Thursday.

The suspension followed a visit by a North West Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for education to the school to investigate allegations of racism.

"I suspended the teacher because what happened yesterday was wrong. But for now, I don't have a reason to suspend the principal. On Monday, after getting more information, I will take a decision on the principal," said council member Sello Lehari.

On Wednesday, many South Africans were up in arms after a photo emerged on social media showing black and white children being seated separately in class. It is believed the suspended teacher took the photo and sent it to parents to show them how children were doing on their first day at school.

The school's governing body chairperson Jozeph du Plessis has denied allegations of racism, saying that pupils from different backgrounds at the school are "fully integrated in all aspects."

Lehari also said the school explained that the children were seated separately because they could not speak English or Afrikaans and were new at the school.

However the MEC said the school's explanation was simply not satisfactory, investigations into this debacle would continue while the teacher is suspended. Enditem

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