At only 19 years old, social justice- and anti-racism activist Zulaikha Patel is paving the way for the youth of South Africa

‘Asking me to change my hair is like asking me to erase my blackness.’ These are the words 13-year-old Zulaikha Patel said when facing the racist hair policies at Pretoria High School for Girls in 2016. She and other black students protested the anti- black ideologies of the school and Code Of Conduct that told black children to ‘fix’ their afros  and dreadlocks.

The policing of people of colour’s hair has been ongoing since the apartheid era in South Africa,but it was a group of young people who decided to fight back and effect change – and they did. The school’s policy was overturned. It was an incredible feat for not only the students of Pretoria High School for Girls, but black students all across the country who had faced racism and abuse at school for their hair. 

Despite the success of the movement though, the next few years still presented struggles at school for Zulaikha. ‘The duration of my high school career was quite difficult to navigate given that the educators who were supposed to face some form of disciplinary action weren’t necessarily found fully guilty of the allegations, which was one of the unfair circumstances we as the learners found ourselves in. We were told that they could not be found guilty as we didn’t have the necessary evidence. It was very puzzling as many of the cases we reported took place in corner offices where there would deliberately be no witnesses,’ Zulaikha shared in an interview with The Daily Vox, ‘My high school career got very difficult, however, I still managed to stick through it and do what I initially went to the institution to do, which was to get my matric.’ It was during this time that Zulaikha continued to grow her activism for anti-racism as well as women’s rights and social justice.

In 2019, Zulaikha began the journey of writing what would become a one-of-a-kind children’s book. As a young girl, she was faced with storybook characters who didn’t resemble her or her lived experience at all. ‘When I was a child,The policing of people of colour’s hair has been ongoing since the apartheid era in South Africa, but it was a group of young people who decided to fight back and effect change – and they did.

The school’s policy was overturned. It was an incredible feat for not only the students of Pretoria High School for Girls, but black students all across the country who had faced racism and abuse at school for their hair. Despite the success of the movement though, the next few years still presented struggles at school for Zulaikha. ‘The duration of my high school career was quite difficult to navigate given that the educators who were supposed to face some form of disciplinary action weren’t necessarily found fully guilty of the allegations, which was one of the unfair circumstances we as the learners found ourselves in. We were told that they could not be found guilty as we didn’t have the necessary evidence. It was very puzzling as many of the cases we reported took place in corner offices where there would deliberately be no witnesses,’ Zulaikha shared in an interview with The Daily Vox, ‘My high school career got very difficult, however, I still managed to stick through it and do what I initially went to the institution to do, which was to get my matric.’ It was during this time that Zulaikha continued to grow her activism for anti-racism as well as women’s rights and social justice.

In 2019, Zulaikha began the journey of writing what would become a one-of-a-kind children’s book. As a young girl, she was faced with storybook characters who didn’t resemble her or her lived experience at all. ‘When I was a child, Bella created a mural in Brooklyn, New York honouring Zulaikha’s bravery and strength. Just last year she was recognised as a visionary woman for the Panache Women Of Wonder Awards. Throughout her short but impactful career, she’s shared panels with the likes of Zozibini Tunzi, local political leaders, experts and more.

While Zulaikha’s efforts to bring about change at such a young age are admirable, it’s not without sacrifice. ‘I’m motivated to bring change in society because I believe no young person should abandon their childhood to fight struggles that should have been fought decades ago,’ she said in an interview with Global Citizen. From that very first moment of standing up for her and her fellow classmates’ right to wear their natural hair, she made it her mission to continue fighting for those around her, but the road to equality and change is still long.

QUICK FACTS 

DOB
4 December 2002
Age
19
Hometown
Pretoria
Accolades
BBC’s 100 Women 2016
Mbokodo Women In Media Award 2016
Inaugural Leadership Award 2018
Panache Women Of Wonder 2021

Photography: Gareth van Nelson/HMimages.co.za