DASO applauds Pretoria Girls High School for speaking up

29 August 2016 - 19:42 By Neo Goba

The Democratic Alliance Student Organisation has commended black schoolgirls at Pretoria Girls High School for raising their grievances peacefully and standing up for their rights. "There has been no violent action and I think that is something that we need to applaud because they are young but they are very politically matured. The hair policy in the school and institutional culture in general is very oppressive and it’s something that we need to deal with‚" said University of Pretoria SRC Chairperson Kwena Moloto‚ who himself has a natural Afro. This comes as Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi was on Monday hearing testimony from black girls at the school over the allegations of victimisation. "This is not a issue that started on Friday‚ it has been happening for years not at just this institution‚ but across the country at both secondary and tertiary level and we need to deal with it starting by removing this hair policy at this school‚" he added.During the testimony‚ one learner recalled how her Afro was described as a dirty bird's nest.Another said black girls weren’t allowed to stand in groups and were accused of being too involved in political and race issues."I have been told that my Afro is untidy and that it is not natural and that it is a dirty bird's nest. The teacher once came to me and she manhandled my hair and she told me I had to cut my hair‚" one learner said while breaking into tears.Former learners‚ parents and political parties came out in support of the #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh movement on Monday.Students and parents are accusing the school of implementing racist policies that include students allegedly being forced to use hair straighteners.Lesufi has asked to be given time to deal with the matters that have been brought to his attention.The MEC will be meeting the school's governing body later on Monday evening to deliberate on the matters...

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