In 2005 there was controversy around a Durban Girls' High student, Sunali Pillay, and her decision to get a nose piercing over the school holidays.

[1] The pupil was of Tamil (South Asian) descent, commonly known as part of the Indian South Africa population group in South Africa, and had her nose pierced as part of her religious and cultural beliefs.

[3] Navaneethum Pillay, Sunali's mother, argued that her daughter should wear her nose piercing as South Africa's Constitution protects religious freedom and diversity in schools.

[2] The Pillays eventually won the court case against the school, with Chief Justice Pius Langa declaring in 2007 that: “Preventing her from wearing it [nose stud] for several hours of each school day would undermine the practice and therefore constitute a significant infringement of her religious and cultural identity.

What is relevant is the symbolic effect of denying her the right to wear it for even a short period; it sends a message that Sunali, her religion and her culture are not welcome.” [2]