Old girls’ message of solidarity for brave pupils

WE, ALUMNAE of Pretoria High School for Girls (PHSG), stand in solidarity with the bold and courageous pupils who have spoken out about rank racial discrimination at our old school.

We are emboldened and inspired by their brave and principled stance in upholding the values the school was established on.

These are encompassed in the mission statement of the founding headmistress, Ms Edith Aitken, who established the school with the honourable goal of educating young women so that we may leave our mark on the world, shape agendas and fight for equitable change when called upon.

Many of the school’s alumni have answered this call over the years.

Ms Aitken’s values are self-evident in many of the esteemed public figures, big and small, who spent their formative years at the school. Among these are educationalists, public interest lawyers, the public health system’s doctors and nurses and other professionals.

So, while many of us were familiar with some of the school’s more archaic practices in our day, it is with dismay that the country’s attention was drawn this week to present-day racism, bullying and patently race-based shaming of black women’s bodies by staff.

Some accounts point to black staff members being demeaned as well, and so we level our dissatisfaction at the school’s poor track record with regard to transformation of the staff body that is not commensurate to the changing body politic of the school.

We pledge our support to the crop of young woman leaders who have brought national attention to issues we are sorely aware are rampant not only at PHSG, but across the country’s former Model C schools.

Girls, we are with you in spirit, mind and body, and we assure you that as Old Girls you have all of our support.

We are here to share with you our experiences of the school and situation you find yourselves in, and are a call away should you seek any guidance, assistance and other practical services.

Among us are lawyers, student activists, psychologists, doctors and members of the media. We are also academics at tertiary institutions, teachers and nurses. Call on us if you need to, but remember also: you have inspired us.

There is much we’d like to learn from you, too.

Signed: Tidimalo Ngakane (class of 2002) – lawyer Shanti Aboobaker (class of 2004) – journalist Sibongile Hill (class of 2002) – medical doctor Katy Hindle (class of 2002) – lawyer Akhona Pearl Mehlo (class 2002) – lawyer Janet Jobson (class of 2002) – civil society activist Angelique Terblanche (class of 2002) – manager Letebele Tsebe (class of 2004) – scientist Jocelyn Evans (class of 2004) – engineer Nqobile Simelane (class of 2004) – economic development manager Christine Emmett (class of 2004) – academic/ commonwealth scholar Yonda Siwisa (class of 2004) – advertising executive Ncumisa Sakawuli (class of 2004) – banker Anushka Singh Bhima (class of 2004) – lawyer Linda Lesu (class of 2004) Tali Cassidy (class of 2005) – epidemiologist Lindelwa Skenjana (class of 2005) – marketing Nadia Ebrahim (class of 2005) – scientist and teacher Leila Ebrahim (class of 2005) – dentist Diale Maepa (class of 2007) – medical doctor Lerissa Govender (class of 2004) – lawyer, civil society activist Moipone Moloantoa (class of 2004) – advertising and marketing manager Carla Dennis (class of 2002) – actress Thuli Zuma (class of 2003) Katie Miller Beyers (class of 2002) Olympia Shabangu (class of 2002) – lawyer Pilani Bubu (class of 2002) – entrepreneur, singer-songwriter Leila Badsha (class of 2005) – entrepreneur Thabisile Tilo (class of 2006) – teacher Danielle Kriel (class of 2004) Dina Lamb (class of 2002) Myna Pindeni (class of 2004) – woman empowerment programmes officer Julia Eccles (class of 2003) – art director Jenni Myburgh (class of 2004) – author and app founder Erin Hommes (class of 2004) – activist and senior researcher Jessica Schnehage (class of 2004) – entertainment consultant, business owner Nuraan Muller (class of 2000) – director Refilwe Tilo (class of 2002) Trish Stewart (class of 2004) – advertising Dieketseng Boshielo (class of 2002) – entrepreneur

Picture: PHILL MAGAKOE RISING UP: PHSG girls protest this week while Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi meets the school management after black pupils were allegedly told to straighten their naturally curly hair. Lesufi has warned other schools to eradicate similar bias...