South African school girls protest for right to keep Afros after being told they are ‘untidy’

Girls as young as 13 years old are protesting for their right to keep their Afros at their high school in South Africa.

Photos and videos of a young black students holding their arms up against armed security guards emerged on social media Monday.

Black students at Pretoria High School for Girls say they are discouraged from speaking their native languages and wearing their hair naturally.

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In one video, a male guard can be seen threatening to arrest a little girl, who stands at about half his height. You can hear the her yelling, “Arrest us, arrest us.”

The girls claim the school administration has asked them to straighten their hair because they’re Afros are “untidy.”

“The system did not allow for black girls to have Afros,” Tiisetso Phetla, a former student at the school, told a local reporter. “It wasn’t written in the code of conduct, but they tell you that your hair is very untidy and it’s not appropriate. If your hair is neatly tied and your Afro is neatly tied, why must you be apologetic for being a black, African child in South Africa?”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The system did not allow for black girls to have Afros," Tiisetso Phetla, a former student at the school, told a local reporter. "It wasn't written in the code of conduct, but they tell you that your hair is very untidy and it's not appropriate. If your hair is neatly tied and your Afro is neatly tied, why must you be apologetic for being a black, African child in South Africa?"

The school’s code of conduct has rules for hairstyles, including limits on the dreadlocks, braids and cornrows.

“All styles should be conservative, neat and in keeping with a school uniform,” the code says.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "All styles should be conservative, neat and in keeping with a school uniform," the code says.

But there is no specific mention of Afros.  According to their website, Pretoria school used to be a whites-only school during the Apartheid.

A spokesman from the school told media outlets they had “direct orders from the Dept of Education to not speak to the press about this matter.”

An online petition was launched asking South Africans to support the girls by demanding the school review their policies. It has received almost 30,000 signatures, so far.

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After the girls marched in protest, the hashtag #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh started trending.

One South African politician has come out against the school’s policies.

“Firstly, we support the stance of Pretoria Girls High students to protect their right to have natural hair,” Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa tweeted Tuesday. “Schools should not be used as a platform to discourage students from embracing their African Identity.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Firstly, we support the stance of Pretoria Girls High students to protect their right to have natural hair," Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa tweeted Tuesday. "Schools should not be used as a platform to discourage students from embracing their African Identity."

An independent investigation over the allegations of racism at Pretoria High school has been launched.