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An 18-year-old South African girl was placed in solitary confinement as punishment for coming to school with the wrong haircut.
The student at a special needs school in North West was stripped naked and forced into the makeshift room by security officers, where she stayed for nine days.
The girl’s uncle, Mthetha Nkafu, 48, told The Citizen that he only found out about the incident after the girl was sent home.
“When she was at school, the principal saw her hairstyle and said the [it] is not acceptable, so she must either cut that hair or leave the school. Or else she would be taken to the ‘lock-up room’,” Nkafu said.
The girl, who wished to remain anonymous, said she argued with the principal, telling him she could not understand what he wanted with her hair.
“I told him no, because I am here to be educated you have a problem with our hair when we don’t comb it. When we use hairpieces you have a problem and my hair is neat, so I don’t understand what you want,” she told The Citizen.
Later, when the girl was in her hostel, teachers sent by the principal arrived to “cut her hair better”. She refused.
“Later on, they sent a security guard who grabbed her and took her clothes off and handcuffed her before going to the locker room,” said Nkafu.
The girl stated that the room was dark, with “blood everywhere”. She added that was no bed, or any furniture in the room, save for a clogged toilet full of used sanitary towels.
She only ate a single slice of bread given on the first day.
On the last day, she was released but was told she as being expelled. The school did not allow her to take her exams, even after several pleas.
The matter is under investigation, with South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson in North West Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone saying that they were still confirming whether the girl was handcuffed during her detention.
According to The Citizen, the school Principal Abel Rudman refused to comment on the allegations against his school, except to say “it’s all nonsense”.
