Uproar as Pretoria Girls’ black pupils in ‘untidy’ hair protest

Gauteng MEC of Education Panyaza Lesufi announced on Sunday he would be visiting Pretoria Girls’ High School on Monday morning to address allegations of racism. In another natural hair debacle in schools, an online petition is circulating and addressed to Lesufi to stop the chaos that has broken out, The Citizen reports.

According to the petition, which garnered 4 201 signatures by early Monday morning, the school is being accused of forcing black girls to straighten their natural hair and “conspiring” when standing in groups. The latter charge appears to be related to the fact that only English is allowed to be spoken.

Lesufi, however, told Radio 702 that he had heard the allegation that when pupils spoke Afrikaans, no action was taken against them for that.

“No wonder you black girls don’t excel academically, you’re always focused on the so-called racial issues of the school,” one teacher allegedly told the protesting learners.

As a result, the students “being forced” to straighten their hair went on a protest on Sunday, with security personnel threatening to arrest them.

“We were told we’re too loud; have no manners; we weren’t allowed to speak our own language, it’s rude,” one of the learners complained.

Videos of the protesting girls have been circulating and they could be heard telling the learners: “We will arrest all of you.”

“They are going to arrest all of us, girls; yes take us, arrest us,” another of the girls can be heard saying.

black girls threatened for walking against the racial injustices of the school. #stopracismatpretoriagirlshigh pic.twitter.com/eMoGLOTCTT

— watchthemoney💰 (@SiyaNtombela_) August 28, 2016

The hashtag #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh has been trending ever since, with some making accusations that government hired K9s–  armed security – to deal with the protesting learners.

Taking to Twitter, Lesufi said he would be visiting the school on Monday morning to get a briefing and address the matter.

Let's call it a day! I have an early morning engagement. Thanks for the support #stopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh

— Panyaza Lesufi (@Lesufi) August 28, 2016

“Leave it with me. There’s a petition directed to me with demands. Hence my intervention. Will visit the school tomorrow morning. It won’t happen under my leadership, NEVER!”

The EFF Student Command at the University of Pretoria has announced its plans to march to the school to address the issues.

The school’s principal was not immediately available for comment.

– Caxton News Service