By Kaya 959 News
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi says no learner at Cornwall Hill College will be mistreated.
Lesufi visited the school as parents and some learners staged a peaceful protest against racism.
Black pupils say management at the school has failed to commit to transformation.
MEC Lesufi called on the teachers to deal with a number of policies, particularly the one dealing with hair – which has been problematic.
He says the school’s leadership has promised him that plans will be put in place to ensure all children are happy.
“One thing that is very clear that I want to emphasize to the leadership of this school, stop this obsession with the hair of our children.
“We are all human beings and all of us deserve to be happy. We don’t want when we enter the premises of this school that we should be reminded of about history… we want to enter this school and build a South Africa that all of us can be proud of.”
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MEC @Lesufi this morning visited #CornwallHillCollege in Irene and addressed issues of racial discrimination raised by learners and parents. #ChildProtectionWeek pic.twitter.com/7yZkBXVqtB
— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) May 31, 2021
Cornwall Hill College responds to allegations
Learners complained that some teachers made them feel like there was something wrong with their natural, kinky hair.
One learner broke down in tears while describing her first encounter with racism in Grade 4. She said a teacher confronted her about her hair while she was on her way to break.
“Your hair is unpresentable, it is messy and it is not the Cornwall way,” she recalled the teacher saying.
I went to #CornwallHillCollege I’m so glad these kids are doing what we were scared to do ❤️❤️❤️ I’m proud!
— Mashitisho Attorneys Incorporated (@MashitishoA) May 31, 2021
Telling black parents to send their kids to black only schools is not the answer to racism. If anything you are perpetuating segregation as opposed to encouraging assimilation. Kids should be able to access any school without the looming threat of racism #cornwallhillcollege pic.twitter.com/r5NvihqYUm
— Sue Nyathi (@SueNyathi) May 31, 2021
Meanwhile, Cornwall Hill College says it is “committed to being a caring, egalitarian, non-racial and inclusive educational institution”.
The school’s executive principal, Leon Kunneke, says they have acknowledged parents’ pleas for transformation.
— Cornwall Hill College (@CornwallHill) May 26, 2021



