Education MEC Lesufi shuts down skinny pants protest

28 August 2017 1:20 PM

Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi says he is worried that a protest on Monday at Hoerskool Pretoria West, where pupils are boycotting classes and demanding to be allowed to wear skinny pants will set precedents in other schools.

Lesufi visited the school and says that all is under control as they managed to persuade learners to suspend their action.

Read: Too cool for school? PTA pupils protest for skinny pants

We gave them their democratic choice that if they feel passionate about their request they need to present it to the school governing body which has agreed to schedule a parents meeting over the weekend to table the motion.
— Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng Education MEC

I don't think this is something we should tolerate and I don't think it is something we should even entertain.
— Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng Education MEC

Lesufi says the school had taken a decision to suspend two learners who are the leaders of this protest but they are now back in school.

He says he is convinced that the matter is under control and that the SGB and the school management will take it further with the parents to reaffirm the school's dress code.

If we allow this kind of dress code it might set a wrong precedent within the school environment but we should give the learners their democratic opportunity to present their side of the story without suppressing them.
— Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng Education MEC

To hear the rest of the interview, listen below:

This article first appeared on 702 : Education MEC Lesufi shuts down skinny pants protest

Written by: Lengwadishang Ramphele