Matrics kicked out over braids

Principal of school facing department disciplinary hearing

TWELVE matric pupils were apparently locked out of their school because they had braided hairstyles that are allowed to be worn by those who have attended their end-of-year dance.

However, the pupils concerned did not attend their matric farewell because they could not afford to pay a R350 contribution towards the dance.

Having such hairstyles is regarded as a “privilege” to those pupils who attend the dance.

The principal of the King William’s Town school has now had to explain his actions before an education department disciplinary hearing.

The eight girls and four boys from Enoch Sontonga High School in Ndevana were allegedly told by the school not to attend classes anymore as they were “a disgrace”.

As a result, the provincial education department confirmed that the principal – identified only as a Mr Ntonga – was scheduled to appear before a disciplinary committee late yesterday afternoon in the King William’s Town district.

Provincial education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said the principal had been hauled before senior departmental officials, because, “the department won’t allow this to happen as we are strict when it comes to the pupil’s education.

“No school will expel a child because of the hairstyle they are wearing. I can confirm that the principal has been called to answer about these allegations.”

At the time of writing yesterday, the outcome of the hearing was not yet known.

The Enoch Sontonga hair saga comes after outcries in other parts of the country where pupils were chased off school premises for having “unruly” or “taboo” hairstyles.

In all cases, education authorities ruled against the schools and demanded that where necessary, school policies should be amended so as to not discriminate against pupils because of their hairstyles.

The pupils’ troubles started last week when they could not afford to pay a R350 contribution towards their matric dance last week in Chintsa.

Close to 20 pupils could not attend because of financial constraints.

For years pupils at the school have been allowed to wear different hairstyles to classes after their matric dance. But because the 12 pupils did not attend the farewell, the school forbade them from having braided hairstyles.

One of the girls, Bongeka Gobondwana, claimed she was dragged out of the class on Monday by two teachers who allegedly told her that she did not belong to the school.

She said she was told that they were outcasts.

“These teachers even threatened us that we are not going to be allowed inside the school until we removed our braids.

“We know our rights but all the teachers are united to kick us out at this time of the year. This is not fair,” said Gobondwana.

Another pupil, Sinesipho Mditshwa, said their parents did not take this lightly.

“This school had no right to do this to us, we are going to challenge them for doing this. Our parents had to call you [media] Mditshwa.

“By not being given a chance to study we will fail and that’s what this school wants.

“Since when having braids and extensions become a problem?”

For the entire week, the pupils were prevented from entering the school premises.

When a Saturday Dispatch team arrived at the school on Thursday, the pupils were standing outside the school, soaking wet in the rain with their books.

They said they had also been blocked from getting governmentsponsored free nutritional meals at the school.

“We get free lunch at the school but because of this,” said the principal and teachers prevented us from eating,” said pupil Sesethu Somdyala.

Contacted by the Dispatch, Ntonga said: “There’s nothing I will say to you because you were at my school and you didn’t bother to talk to me.” He then ended the call. Mtima said while schools have their policies, it was important that such policies should not infringe on pupils’ right to education.

“If you prevent them from attending classes, you are not giving them their right. If they have done wrong, you write a letter to their parents or guardians to attend to the issue you want to discuss, not force them out,” said Mtima. — bonganif@ dispatch.co.za