It all happened when young learners of the school got sick and exhausted of being told that their hair was unacceptable.
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The high school was also accused by the ministry of a heavy-handed response to the protest for calling in police and armed security guards. They allege they were criticised for looking “ghetto” and were mistreated. The girls demanded the right to wear their natural hair in its full glory without the threat of not being allowed to write exams.
Students also claim that they have been told not to speak in other languages to each other, and that often when a group of girls are walking together, they are told to disperse, Buzzfeed notes.
“You get the code of conduct and the school rules and they say that the hair must touch the collar and must be tied up.
The text of the petition to the provincial Minister of Education Panyaza Lesufi claims that “disciplinary action be taken against teachers who implement racist policies”. “When they see a black learner they would throw the comb at the learner and say go to the bathroom to comb your hair”, he said.
A pupil told Lesufi her Afro was likened to a bird’s nest by a teacher.
The learners believe educators use abusive and demeaning language when they address them regarding their hairstyles.
The school’s code of conduct does not specifically outlaw afros, but requires that hairstyles must be “conservative”, that “hair must be brushed” and that cornrows, natural dreadlocks and braids must be “a maximum of 10 millimetres in diameter”.
This follows the school’s reported instruction to black pupils to straighten their hair‚ leading to protest action by some its learners last week.
“The teacher would usually tell them to fix their hair. make it smooth”, she said.
“My sister has gone through a lot of bullying, she’s had to change school three times because of her hair”.
Yesterday, these pupils demanded an apology from the school and an end to its racist practices.
Tiisetso Phetla, a former student at Pretoria High, told a local reporter about her experience at the school.
Pupils complained that they were discriminated against for their hair as well as speaking their mother tongue.
Lesufi told the girls: “This is not normal and there are many who are suffering in silence”. You are not alone, there are many others who suffer in silence. You have my support and I will protect you.
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Lesufi advised the school governing body to apologise for the events that had unfolded at the school.
