The principal of the local high school, Mrs Shabangu, refuses to admit a student, Melanie, to the school because Melanie is HIV-positive.

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?

It is an act of discrimination to keep a child out of a school because of HIV status and every child has a right to education.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

You can help Melanie and her parents by first setting up a meeting with the chairperson of the school governing board. If this doesn’t help you can write a letter of complaint to the South African Human Rights Commission about the school’s actions. The SAHRC must investigate the complaint. (See Problem 1: Taking a case to the South African Human Rights Commission; See Dealing with HIV/AIDS in schools)