A large group of Port Elizabeth pupils were barred from school yesterday and ordered not to return until they had shaved off their "fancy" holiday hairstyles.
The 60 pupils at Morningside High School, who sported hairstyles ranging from plaits to weaves and Afros, insisted they be allowed to wear extensions because they, too, wanted long hair, like their white and coloured friends.
Many Port Elizabeth schools do not have a problem with hair extensions and coloured hair, but one principal said " fad hairstyles" were always an issue.
The pupils, who wanted to remain anonymous, said they felt their rights were being violated.
"They even chased us away from the school gate.
"We feel that Xhosa pupils are being [discriminated against]. I mean all our braids and corn rows are neatly tied. Even boys are not allowed to have Afros - they want them to have short hair," said a 15-year-old Grade 9 pupil.
The Morningside High principal, Saraswathi Pather, was unavailable for comment yesterday.
But Timothy Hendricks, chairman of the school's governing body, said: "The children were told to go home to fix their hair. They will be allowed back at school only when they have fixed their hair."
A 17-year-old Grade 11 pupil said: "We understand the issue of weaves and bondings. We don't understand when they don't want us to plait and braid our hair."
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