South African Schoolgirls Protest Administration to Wear Their Natural Hair

High school students at Pretoria Girls High in South Africa are protesting for their right to wear their natural hair. Black students at the school reportedly have been told to straighten their hair. Now while the school’s code of conduct does not explicitly forbid natural hair, the aunt of one student alleges her suspension was upheld due to the school’s hair regulations:

During protest, one girl elaborated on the blatant negative remarks received from one of her teachers regarding her hair:

“I have a natural afro, but a teacher told me I need to comb my hair because it looks like a birds nest.”

In an interview by a local news affiliate, one student explains how strongly implied the unwritten hair policy is by school staff.

Aside from being prohibited in wearing their natural hair, students also report they were asked not to speak their native tongue’s by the school’s administration.
Many have rallied their support behind the students including South African Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa:

“Schools should not be used as a platform to discourage students from embracing their African identity.”