Man arrested for school’s ‘hair policy’ assault granted bail

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A 51-year-old man facing two charges of assault has been released on bail of R2000 following his appearance at the Midrand magistrates’ court on Thursday.

Andries Hendrik Booysen, was arrested earlier today for pulling the hair of a grade 8 pupil at Crowthorne Christian Academy.

This comes after a video went viral depicting the learner being forcefully removed from the classroom as a result of new policy that prohibited dreadlocks.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwana says the incident happened on Monday, August 14, where there was a disagreement between the school principal and a learner’s mother regarding the school policy in relation to the learner’s dreadlock hairstyle.

An assault charge has been opened with police
after a man is seen pushing a minor. There was a dispute over the learner’s extentions/dreadlocks. The incident took place at the Crowthorne Christian School in Midrand, Johannesburg. Video as received. pic.twitter.com/sI2rNTeydN

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) August 15, 2023

“The argument resulted in the school principal’s husband (Booysen), allegedly violently pushing the learner and her mother.

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“Booysen’s bail condition is that he should not make any contact or interfere with state witnesses, whether directly or indirectly,” she explained.

The case was postponed to Monday, October 2, for further investigations.