Johannesburg - Veteran radio presenter John Robbie found himself at the centre of a Twitter storm on Monday as social media users slammed him for his comments on black women’s hair.
He made the remarks during an interview about the Pretoria High School for Girls code of conduct, which allows girls to have straightened hair. They can braid their hair, provided it is 10mm thick.
In an interview with the school’s former pupil Mishka Wazar, Robbie said some braids were fantastic while others were “over-the-top showbiz”.
Wazar, an Indian woman, said that when she was a pupil at the school, black girls in particular were subjected to unfair rules.
“I had black friends and they were not allowed to have their hair in very long braids, they were not allowed dreadlocks, they were not allowed afros,” she said.
Wazar said there was a culture of silencing dissident voices at the school. Robbie responded that “in general, school rules make no sense to pupils” and said he did not believe the school was racist.
“You’ve got to have a boundary line somewhere because there is an element of discipline,” he said, pointing out that self-expression should have some limits.
“I’ve seen braids which are fantastic and I have seen braids which have been over-the-top show biz.”
Wazar shot back at Robbie, saying: “You are a white man and you really do not have a right to comment on black women’s hair.”
Robbie trended for almost the whole day, with many angry listeners taking to Twitter to express their disapproval about his remarks.
Among them was @NolwaziShange, who tweeted: “I need John Robbie to define ‘SHOWBIZ’ braids for me. If that itself is not a sign of ignorance, I don’t know what is.”
Also commenting was @MbaliSibanyoni, who said: “If you don’t know much about other people and their culture, don’t judge but listen! I’m really shocked at John Robbie’s interview shame.”
@Thabiso_Dlamini said: “Remember calling out @702JohnRobbie for his hypocrisy and low-key racism and I was told to go listen to Ukhozi FM.”
@crabracer said: “The hair histrionics were highly entertaining today. Psychologists brace yourselves, even John Robbie may need an appointment.”
Wazar, who is a journalist for the Daily Vox website, later visited the school to show solidarity for the pupils fighting the school’s policy which stipulates that they wear straightened hairdos.
The Daily News's sister paper, The Star sent questions to Robbie’s two e-mail addresses, as advised by 702’s receptionist, who said he could be reached only via e-mail.
Robbie had not responded at the time of publication....
Racism knows no boundaries
@Sisonkemsimang: The disrespect is not only do we have to "explain" our hair… we have to do it over and over.
@KhaliQakaSyd: There are those who are already using #PretoriaGirlsHigh to score political points. Never forget that they were in gov the past 22 years.
@YolaniZitumane: This story reminds me of the e.tv madness where a story could not be broadcast because the reporter was wearing a doek.
@Mphikelwa: Black girls having to assert their identity in their own motherland – Africa. Racism knows no boundaries #PretoriaGirlsHigh.
@ThandoSigubudu: The Eurocentric idea of what’s tidy doesn’t work for us Africans. We're cut from a different cloth, and that’s denim bruh!
@enhle_flowers: It is our hair, our accent, our skin, our culture! Everything, we are prisoners in our own country Damn democracy! #PretoriaGirlsHigh.
@eleyeja:#PretoriaGirlsHigh upholding everyday violence on blackness and black bodies. Violence that is calibrated into rules and regulations of PGHS.
@NomaLindaSays: Why should girls of African descent be told to style their hair in a specific manner? Such bull----.
@GoodKidxDylan: I feel like modern South African society has failed those girls and others who suffer the same or similar oppression.
@EliaMpoihi: South Africa is the capital country for breeding racists, they flourish and prosper under so-called freedom of speech.
@SeadimoTlale: Mandela’s rainbow nation has been used to silence black pain far too long... and it's not just #PretoriaGirlsHigh.
@Bati_Zo: Most blacks lost confidence in the current government because after 2 decades there are still no laws to punish racists #PretoriaGirlsHigh
@Feliciamabuza: BlackHairRocks! #PretoriaGirlsHigh get with the program & embrace.
@RuptasMustFall: The oppressors pretend 2 like us, until they get home 2 their segregated white suburbs!.