educational leaders are just as clueless about laws of religion. as i am sure the kids religion was placed on his application form. discrimination wco

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School chases away kid with dreadlocks

By ZIPO-ZENKOSI NCOKAZI

Mom lodges complaint saying Rastafarians don’t cut hair.

A CHILD of five has been denied schooling because of his dreadlocks. The child’s mother, Nangamso Makasi said she and her son Yola – who attends King’s College, a private primary school in East London – felt the school had treated her and her child unfairly.

“I was called into the office three days after Yola started school and told that his hairstyle was unacceptable.

“Either his hair was cut or I removed him from the school,” said Makasi.

She said she was dismissed when she argued that dreadlocks were part of her religion.

“I am Rastafarian and so is my child; I tried to explain to the principal that my religion did not allow us to cut our hair.

“It was at that point that he asked for my bank details saying he would refund me my money,” she said.

Makasi said she felt discriminated against because of her religion.

“What upsets me even further is that they did not communicate the hair issue to me before enrolling my child.

“They saw him when we came to apply for admission but no one indicated that his hair would be an issue. I find that deceitful and unhelpful,” said Makhasi.

ACCESS DENIED: Nangamso Makasi is furious that her son Yola, a Grade R learner at King’s College was turned away from the school because of his dreadlocks. She has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission Picture: SINO MAJANGAZA …read more