LITIGATING PREJUDICE:

RESPECTING MINORITY RIGHTS IN SCHOOLS

PREJUDICEPreconceived opinion not based on reason or actual experience

DISLIKE

HOSTILITY

Unjust behaviour deriving from

preconceived & unfounded opinions

Little Rock Central High – Arkansas, USA 1957

LITTLE ROCK 9 – Elizabeth Eckford:“They moved closer and

closer...Somebody started yelling...I tried to see a

friendly face somewhere in the crowd—someone who

maybe could help. I looked into the face of an old

woman and it seemed a kind face, but when I looked at

her again, she spat on me.”

LITTLE ROCK 9

VIDEO FOOTAGE OF LITTLE ROCK 9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oodolEmUg2g

Leseding Technical High – Bloemfontein, SA 2013

LERATO RADEBE

VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE RADEBE’S BEFORE EE INVOLVEMENT

22 JANUARY 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olWcgk5Rt0A

Lerato Radebe:

“It gives me a painful feeling to be taken from class and not to be able to learn like

my classmates just because I have dreadlocks. I just want

to learn like the other learners.”

Lerato Radebe:

“I am worried I am falling behind especially in maths.

When the administrator takes me to the staffroom I

sometimes sit there and do maths exercises by myself. I

want to return to class.”

COURT HEARING

STATE’S CASE - URGENCY

• The matter was not urgent

• Mr Radebe caused his own urgency by delaying. He should have brought the matter to court much sooner.

STATE’S CASE - MOOTNESS

• A matter is moot if the situation has already resolved itself and there is no need for the court to get involved

• Saying the Department had already registered Lerato at a different school so court did not need to get involved

 Doron Isaacs: @doronisaacs

17 May

The word from Wilfred Phalatsi JA Free State HC: "Not leaving this

court without making sure this child in school on

Monday.“

RADEBE JUDGMENT

“It cannot be overemphasised that 

religion is a very sensitive issue and that 

religious intolerance can ruin the whole 

country.”

RADEBE JUDGMENT“The courts of this country must be alert 

and proactive and root out the evil of 

religious intolerance in any form.   They 

should nip it in the bud wherever and 

whenever it raises its ugly head.”

RADEBE JUDGMENT“I would appeal to the respondents and 

the powers that be, to educate and make 

our people aware of the importance and 

advantages of religious diversity.”

LERATO RADEBEVIDEO FOOTAGE OF LERATO OUTSIDE

OF COURT AFTER THE JUDGE ORDERED THAT SHE BE ALLOWED TO

RETURN TO SCHOOL

17 MAY 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxATOdOcOzQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5FVvK2L8J8

TrendsmapSthAfrica @TrendsSthAfrica

16 May

#supportLerato is now trending

in South Africa !!!

Simphiwe Dana @simphiwedana

16 May

I don't understand why some schools

take issue with natural black hair. Has our world not

changed at all? #supportLerato

Zahr @ntokozo29

16 May

Wts her locks gotta do with it tho? RT 

Pierre de Vos @pierredevos

17 May

At heart of Bloemfontein school's Rasta case is

the inability and unwillingness of schools

to deal with and accommodate diversity.

 Zakes Mda @ZakesMda

17 May

We didn't fight for the freedom of this

country for any child to be discriminated

against #supportLerato

Kate Wilkinson @kateomega

17 May

#supportLerato I got a bit teary when I heard that the court had ruled in Lerato's favour. She is so brave!

Well done @Eelawcentre!

Chairperson of Leseding SGB 

“The learner is not going to stay in the classroom. We are

going to take them out so that the minister or whoever

must see we are serious about this problem.”

FREE STATE MEC COMMITS TO

WORKSHOPS TO COMBAT PREJUDICE

IN FREE STATE SCHOOLS

Greetings in the name of the Most High JAH RASTAFARI I

On behalf  of RASTAFARI HOUSE OF NYAHBINGHI we want  to  thank you and your team, and Equal Education ( law centre) for playing the important role by assisting one of our  child  in Rastafari  community,  to be accepted at  school as  a  true born African,  representing  her  true  identity.  This  is  part  of  the  work  done  by  Equal Education  to educate our people,  today our brothers and  sisters  learned another chapter in life.We also appreciate the role played by Equal Education by relieving, and healing the stress, pains and  confusion  that was  trying  to break  the  family of  Elder Radebe's family, we are glad to tell you that, the family is united as one now, and love is the way of life. Lastly we wish all the best, more strength for Equal Education to keep on  representing the, future of future leaders of this country. 

RegardsRasanki MotaungRastafari House Education Co ordinatorBlessed.