Johannesburg - Ntokozo Mathonsi, 18, says she should not have to wear a skirt to get an education.
About two weeks after Ntokozo and seven other girls were suspended from an East Rand high school, the group are back at school, thanks to intervention by the Department of Education.
Tholulwazi Secondary School in Tsakane, east of Joburg, allegedly suspended Ntokozo and seven other girls for refusing to wear a skirt to school.
Another of the girls, Nandi Tshabalala, 18, alleges the principal told them that they were not to come back until they “knew whether they were girls or boys”.
Nandi said one of the girls had missed four tests before the group were able to return to school on Wednesday, following the intervention by the Gauteng Department of Education.
Ntokozo said she had missed one test.
“Everyone at school laughed at us when we were wearing skirts, as we are used to wearing trousers,” she said.
“I didn’t feel comfortable (wearing a skirt).
“I said I would go back to school when I was allowed to wear what I was comfortable in – as long as I represented school colours.”
Ntokozo’s mother, Silvia, says she believes that the real issue at the heart of the girls’ suspensions is that they are lesbians.
“Our children’s rights as women were violated, and their right to education was violated too,” said Silvia.
She said that the school had demanded to see Ntokozo’s birth certificate to verify her daughter’s sex.
According to Gauteng Department of Education spokeswoman Phumla Sekhonyane, the department is taking the allegations seriously.
“The department is aware of the matter and views these allegations in a serious light,” said Sekhonyane.
“No discrimination of any form – including (that based upon) religion, sexuality or creed – is allowed in schools.”
Tholulwazi Secondary School’s principal, J Jiyane, declined to return this paper’s calls or to provide the reporter with his full name.
Health-e News