Pupil recalls racism, told hair is ‘not Cornwall College way’

Scores of pupils and parents gathered on the chilly Monday morning to protest against alleged racism and a lack of transformation at the school.

Singo Ravelo, who is a pupil at the school, recalled the first time she encountered racism at the school. 

She says that she was only in grade 4 and the incident was related to her hair. 

“My first and vivid memory of racism happened when I was in grade 4, I was happily on my way to break when a teacher stopped me and had this big frown that cumbered her whole face and swallowed me whole. She looked me dead in the eyes and said “your hair is unpresentable, it is messy and it’s not Cornwall. She also told me I’d look better if I straightened my hair.”

“After that encounter I believed that there was something wrong with my kinky and natural hair. And for a long time I was uncomfortable wearing my natural hair to school. Now when I look back I feel angry. I’m angry that anyone would dare challenge a child in Africa that their African hair is unacceptable.”

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, who was present at the school on Monday morning says the school should resolve the matter as soon as possible. 

He says schools need to stop obsessing over black children’s hair. 

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“My discussion with them was very clear, go back to the negotiating table and resolve all outstanding problems and ensure that everyone is welcomed in this school. One thing that is clear and I want to emphasiSe to the leadership of the school  is to “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 that when we enter the premises of the school to be reminded of our history or who we are. We want to enter this school and build a South Africa that we can all be proud of.”

Meanwhile Cornwall Hill College has acknowledged that it could have done more to push transformation. 

“Before I even delve into recognising and sharing our understanding that transformation is one of our country’s most pressing and critical issues, please allow me on behalf of all to sincerely apologise on behalf of the executive head, the school’s leadership and for the delay of transforming Cornwall College. We are sorry," says Morris Dicks, head of Junior School. 

“We also fully recognise that we need to match words with deeds.”

A memorandum has been handed over to the school with the parent’s and learners’ demands. 

The school has until the end of June to respond to the list of demands.