The Conversation reported that a South African university music student, referred to as Charles, described experiencing racial abuse in his residence and emotional abuse from a teacher, which led him to abandon his classical music studies.
The source said the student likened his university building to a prison, noting that his teacher repeatedly called him a failure despite his talent, contributing to feelings of isolation, suicidal thoughts and self‑harm.
The Conversation added that similar accounts have emerged from other musicians, and a 2024 survey of women in South Africa’s music scene found just under one‑third felt pressured to enter sexual relationships.
According to the source, South Africa’s classical music institutions have largely remained silent about such abuse, preserving an ethos of non‑political neutrality that obscures the historic racial privilege established during apartheid.
The researcher, a musicologist, argues that the legacy of apartheid and the power imbalance between teachers and students foster abusive practices, urging a reckoning to create safer teaching and professional environments.
For more information, visit theconversation.com.