Crowthorne Christian Academy in Midrand, which has been at the centre of a hair dispute when a pupil was forced to leave for having dreadlocks, has been closed indefinitely.
The dreadlocks appeared to be in violation of the school’s hair rules. According to Sowetan, the school informed parents through text message that it would be closing permanently.
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There have also been reports that the school was not registered with the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE).
GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona told Sowetan the 13-year-old pupil had been offered alternative schooling and counselling while the department was “assisting the school to comply and encourage all unregistered institutions to engage with the department for assistance with registration processes”.
Calls to the school remained unanswered again on Thursday morning.
Nevertheless, parents were advised to expect a thorough explanation soon after the school was closed on Wednesday due to an EFF protest.
Phillip Daniel, the EFF’s Gauteng provincial deputy chairperson, stated that the party would not tolerate any unfair policies, “especially ones stinking of racism” after the removal of the 13-year-old pupil for wearing dreadlocks.
The EFF supporters picketed outside the school gates under police and security observation. Despite the fact that the school was closed, they picketed again on Thursday.
This week, a viral video showed school principal Tanya Booysen and a man thought to be her husband were seen preventing a student from attending class due to her dreadlocks.
The event was captured on video by the pupil’s parents after the school asked her to leave to have her dreadlocks removed.
According to the school’s hair code, which was circulated on social media, “All children’s hair must be clean and neat. Only natural hair is allowed. Only plain haircuts are permitted. No fashion clippings or shaves are allowed. No hair extensions are permitted.
“No bleaching / colouring / highlights, etc. allowed. Girl’s hair must be kept out of the eyes, once it reaches collar length, it must be tied up. Girls may tie up their hair in ponytails, a neat bun or neatly braided hair. (maximum two ponytails or two buns),” it said.
“Girls may only wear red, white or blue hair accessories. (Accessories: ribbons and clips, no beads). Boys’ hair must be kept short.”
Dreadlocks are not the same as hair extensions.
The student’s sister had used social media to document contacts between the school and her parents. The school had apparently been requesting that the student’s dreadlocks be removed since the end of July, but the parents resisted, informing the administrator that dreadlocks were natural hair.
Principal Booysen said: “No, she needs to go and remove the extensions. She can return once she adheres to the code of conduct”.
In another text she said: “Good morning N****, I see T****** still has her hair extensions. She needs to go home and can return to school once she adheres to the schools code of conduct. Kind Regards Tanya,” she said in a text.
The parent responded: “I have been telling you there’s no hair extensions on my child’s hair. It is her own black hair.”
Meanwhile, Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed to SurgeZirc SA that police were investigating a case of common assault after a complaint was opened for that matter.
No arrests have been made.
