There have been an awful many incidents regarding dress codes and codes of conduct at Gauteng schools this year, but the latest doesn’t concern hair at all.
Instead, fashion has come under the spotlight.
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Students at Pretoria West High School in Tshwane on Friday protested against the school’s dress code by partaking in a stay away. The current code forbids students from wearing skinny pants.
The Gauteng Department of Education issued a statement Monday, confirming that “learning and teaching” at the school “resumed as per normal”.
Media Statement on #SkinnyPants protest by @EducationGP pic.twitter.com/U9bC7zmfvm
— GautengGov (@GautengProvince) August 28, 2017
Unsurprisingly, the issue has stirred conversation on social media.
Although the incident took place last week, #SkinnyPants today began trending in Johannesburg and South Africa at large around 3pm, as users discussed the repercussions for the learners involved and, well, skinny pants themselves.
‘Skinny pants’ became one of the hottest talking points on South African Twitter today after Friday’s protest at a Tshwane school
Some also just couldn’t understand why #SkinnyPants was trending at all, or the logic behind the protest.
#SkinnyPants What am i reading? pic.twitter.com/L6pDtjclXO
— hudayfah (@hudayfah) August 28, 2017
What? #SkinnyPants pic.twitter.com/mrv2atqlNZ
— Raymond® (@raymondsebeela) August 28, 2017
A whole, entire protest by pupils on the right to wear #SkinnyPants around Hoerskool Pretoria. #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/kpAKRbdkCn
— Audrey Chimwanda (@AudreyChimwanda) August 28, 2017
#SkinnyPants what nonsense is that? Skinny pants for WHAAT? pic.twitter.com/hRzT4cR911
— Nelson Deluxe (@NelsonDeluxe1) August 28, 2017
— Accomplish Makhubela (@senziey) August 28, 2017
#SkinnyPants
I give up on SA. Kids wanna be bo king kotini at school— Obed_lkg (@LekgothoaneObed) August 28, 2017
Some questioned the pupils’ motives, priorities, and the imminent approach of final exams.
“What is going on with these kids?” one user questioned.
#SkinnyPants kids are prioritising skinny jeans than their education. I cry for my beloved country…
— Arnold (@ArnoldRivalani) August 28, 2017
#SkinnyPants should be a least of these guys worry, final exam is coming, now that’s a priority. Are they ready?
— KhayelihleKhumalo (@KhayaJames) August 28, 2017
#skinnypants for what? Are they gonna help deliver better maths marks? What is going on with these kids
— Leen_Mkhwebane (@shirleetea) August 28, 2017
Some were wondering where the conversations involving dress codes and hair — which was seemingly the mainstay of school conversation in Gauteng a few months prior — had vanished to.
so the hair issue is over now it’s #SkinnyPants. What’s next? How about we demand better grades first? pic.twitter.com/aS343QBptk
— Jou Ma Se Kind (@Ausmasweety) August 28, 2017
#SkinnyPants @Lesufi was not going to allow this madness,next time they will demand a break to smoke,they should focus in getting high marks pic.twitter.com/EFWnohSJcw
— Adolph (@Adolph_89) August 28, 2017
Finally, Twitter users also questioned the unthinkable…
@Azania_ @Radio702 And when (heaven forbid) bell bottoms are back in fashion? What must to can happen? Gerrarrahere mang’ #SkinnyPants pic.twitter.com/NpEW1xJU5z
— Mbali (@ZuluFlower) August 28, 2017
There have been no reports of protests regarding bell-bottoms as yet.
