No way, says school over pupils’ hair

A CATO Manor school has taken a hard line on hairstyles.

Pupils said yesterday that they were barred from entering the school grounds by community members and the police for having their hair styled in line with the Shembe Church, and gel in their hair.

Principal Poobalan Moodley, who confirmed that the community policing forum had been proactive in checking neatness, said all that had happened was that pupils were told they had until the weekend to get their hairstyles in line with the requirements of the Code of Conduct.

“We change with the times,” said the Bonela Secondary School principal. “But some come with hairstyles that are unacceptable,” he said, also referring to tinted hair.

“This has to be a place of learning not chaos.”

Pupils outside the school showed their Shembe hairstyles, which they said caused them to be sent home with “more than 100” others.

“We had these hairstyles last year too,” said one.

“Last year one learner was allowed a Shembe hairstyle,” Moodley said. “His mother came to ask for it and he was granted a concession.”

Moodley said pupils’ claims that they had to enter the premises over a back fence was “a lie”.

“It was like a roadblock (at the gate),” said a Grade 11 pupil with a Shembe hairstyle.

“Now we are missing out on class. This is going to add to school failures.”

The pupil said the school’s actions smacked of racism. “They let the Indians off,” he said, tugging at a passing Indian pupil who, it turned out, had also been ordered to sort out his hair.

Moodley said a reminder to abide by the Code of Conduct, especially dress and hairstyle, had accompanied the reports over the holidays.