The ANCWL statement on racist attacks on learners at the Pretoria Girls High School by the school management and their rented bouncers

29 August 2016

The ANC Women's League (ANCWL)  condemns the racist policy passed by the management of Pretoria Girls High School that  black learners at the school should straighten their hair and are prohibited from conversing amongst each other in vernacular. 

It should be noted that the ANCWL is appalled by their behaviour of the school management to allow young children to be manhandled by big security men for raising their concerns. 

The ANCWL supports the young fearless black girls at Pretoria Girls High school for standing firm in dealing with the racism they are experiencing at their school. South Africans should not tolerate any form of racism and must work together to deal with structural racism in our previously white schools. It is the firm belief of the ANCWL that South Africa should start moving towards criminalizing all forms racist behaviors. Any form of reversing the gains of our democracy must be unashamedly  exposed and unapologetically confronted by all of us. 

The ANCWL supports the young fearless black learners from Pretoria Girls High who firmly stood up against racism when it reared its ugly head. We encourage all South Africans not to tolerate any form of racism and must work together to deal with structural racism in some of the Private schools around the country. Any form of reversing the gains of our democracy must be unashamedly  exposed and unapologetically confronted by all of us. 

Whilst the ANCWL appreciates that the Gauteng MEC of Education, Hon Panyaza Lesufi acted swiftly in addressing the matter by visiting the school for a fact finding mission with a hope to restore the dignity of a black child, the ANCWL will join other progressive structures to highlight the matter to  Human Rights Commission for the Commission to investigate and ensure no stone is left unturned

Issued by Meokgo Matuba, ANCWL Secretary General, 20 August 2016