Nasiphi Mabusela – Icamagu News Reporter
In the rolling hills of Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape, a 14-year-old girl’s education has been abruptly interrupted after she was allegedly chased out of school because of her dreadlocks.
The learner, whose name is being withheld to protect her identity, had been attending Mxhume Junior Secondary School when the incident occurred. According to her family, tensions began earlier this year when teachers raised concerns about her hairstyle, which they said did not comply with the school’s code of conduct.
However, the teenager’s family maintains that her dreadlocks are not a fashion statement but part of a deeply personal and spiritual journey. It is believed that the child has a spiritual calling, and that the dreadlocks form part of her healing process. In many African spiritual traditions, such practices are closely tied to ancestral beliefs and cultural identity.
The family alleges that the situation escalated when the learner was instructed to cut her hair or face disciplinary action. When she refused, citing her spiritual obligations, she was allegedly told not to return to school until she complied. Since then, she has remained at home while her peers continue attending classes.
“She wants to be in school,” a family member said. “She cries when she sees other children going to class. Education is important to her, but so is her calling.”
When contacted for comment, the principal of Mxhume Junior Secondary School referred all questions to the Provincial Department of Education and declined to provide further details.
Efforts to obtain comment from the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education were unsuccessful at the time of publication. The department was not available to comment.
The incident has sparked conversations in the community about the balance between school policies and cultural or spiritual expression. As the debate continues, one thing remains clear: a young girl’s education hangs in the balance while she waits for a resolution that will allow her to return to the classroom without compromising her beliefs.
