Maphoitsile pupil banned from school for being lesbian

Facebook: Bogosing Secondary school pupil, Zinzi Molema 

BY REGINALD KANYANE

NORTH West education and sport development department has intervened after an 18 year-old girl was prohibited from entering school yard at Bogosing Secondary School in Maphoitsile village near Taung for being lesbian.

Zinzi Manini Molema who confessed that she is a lesbian said she was banned from school by the principal.

“The principal sent me packing after I came to school wearing a trouser which was part of uniform. He said I must go back home and wear a skirt since I was a girl. I told him that I cannot wear a skirt because I’ve never worn any in my life. I had to stay home for three weeks without attending any classes.

“I stay with my grandmother and she is sick, so I had to ask our neighbour, Reynett Gaanabo to intervene. He tried to explain my situation to the principal, but his attempts were futile. I believe it is unfair for any educator to force a pupil to wear anything that they not feeling comfortable in,” Molema said.

Reynett Gaanabo, 42 said they knew Zinzi as lesbian within the community. He said everyone have accepted her for who she is. He said it was uncalled for the school to make her suffers because of dress code.

“She was wearing a school uniform, despite whether is a trouser or a skirt. How could they deny her time to attend classes just because she is lesbian? We want to put it out clear that we cannot allow our kids to be harassed because of their beliefs,” he said.

North West education and sport development spokesperson, Elias Malindi said: “As department we have ordered the principal to take back the pupil. We also informed the principal to make some exceptional towards the learner. The school will also make sure they organise recovery plan for her to cover the syllabus. The SGB and the principal will convene a meet with the learner’s parents or guardian in quest to reach an amicably long term solution towards the matter.”

South African Civic Organisation (SANCO) regional secretary in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Mika Moeti condemned the decision taken by the principal. He said the pupil cannot be denied education simply because of her dress code.

“As the community, we need to be tolerant towards each other. We cannot afford to discriminate each other because of our dress code, gender and beliefs. We want to applaud the MEC of education and sport development, Wendy Matsemela for intervention. The freedom charter said education is a constitutional right for any kid. So denying the girl education because of her dress code and for being lesbian is uncalled for,” Moeti said.

-TDN

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