Untangling the hair debate

The News untangled the hair debate and spoke to Krugersdorpers about their hair.

September 3, 2016

Portia Mokowe 1 minute read

Dane Brown says his favourite hairstyle is a man-bun and notes that although girls are allowed to dye their hair in a maroon colour, boys are not.

Over the last few days hair has generated a big discussion on social networks following the protest action by pupils at Pretoria High School for Girls (PHSG). They said they feel discriminated against by the school’s hair policy, among other things.

It is reported that pupils protested at the school’s spring fair on Saturday, 27 August. Since then former pupils have come out to support current pupils, an online petition in support of the pupils was created and has garnered nearly 28 000 signatures, andthe Gauteng MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi has suspended PHSG’s code of conduct. The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga said according to news reports the school’s policy is not controversial or racist .

Furthermore, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has voiced its support for the PHSG pupils. “We are pleased that MEC Panyaza Lesufi has intervened, and that the school’s code of conduct will be reviewed, along with that of other schools in the province,” said the director of the foundation, Neeshan Balton. Meanwhile the FF Plus MPL in the Gauteng Legislature, Phillip van Staden is against Panyaza Lesufi’s decision to suspend the code of conduct at PHSG. “A code of conduct brings order in society and it is necessary for all children to obey the rules. Furthermore the party is worried that without proper codes of conducts, children will have the freedom to bend the rules,” said Van Staden.

The News untangled the hair debate and asked Hoërskool Jan de Klerk pupils how they keep their hair neat and how they adhere to their school’s code of conduct. Principals of other schools in the area declined to participate in this sensitive conversation.

People shared their opinions on Twitter @ #PretoriaGirlsHigh

Straight hair does not symbolize neatness much better that Afro hair. that is just demeaning and undermining Africanness #PretoriaGirlsHigh

— Ndzavi Derrick .CBA (@NdzaviDerrick) August 29, 2016

Dear girls of #PretoriaGirlsHigh,

Please don't ever allow the prejudiced system of "society" to turn you into someone you're not!

— Ulrich Janse van Vuuren (@UlrichJvV) August 29, 2016

#PretoriaGirlsHigh Yet another example of ignorant institutional racism. Times must change. How it took children to point it out is too sad.

— Nickolaus Bauer (@NickolausBauer) August 29, 2016

https://twitter.com/uSamke_M/status/770129889697628160

Pupils at Hoërskool Jan de Klerk shared their views with the News.