SOUTHERN Africa Nazarene University (SANU) has warned students against wearing revealing attire, saying continued non-compliance with its dress code could result in disciplinary action.
The university issued the warning in a memorandum dated August 28, 2026, addressed to all students by the Registrar, Sipho Mhlanga.
In the memorandum, Mhlanga said the institution had observed an increasing number of instances where students were wearing excessively short skirts, commonly referred to as tigcebhe and revealing attire.
The registrar also raised concerns about students who fail to wear required protective clothing during practical sessions.
He reminded students that its dress code standards were intended to promote modest, professional and respectful presentation in academic, clinical and professional environments.
The university said its position was also based on its Christian identity and the values it seeks to promote among students.
“Scriptural principles and our university code of conduct call us to walk in modesty, integrity, and respect for ourselves and others,” said the registrar through the memorandum.
Mhlanga further said attire that was considered revealing was contrary to the spiritual and moral framework of the university community.
The university also linked students’ appearance to their conduct in professional environments, particularly where they are required to represent the institution during internships and clinical placements.
“Our partner organisations, clinical facilities, and corporate stakeholders expect strict professional dress,” he stated.
He warned that failure to comply with these standards could affect university placement agreements and limit students’ off-campus internship opportunities.
The memorandum also highlighted safety concerns linked to dress requirements in laboratories and clinical settings. According to the registrar, protective clothing in laboratories and clinical settings is mandatory for students’ physical safety and professional hygiene.
“Omitting required gear puts both you and those you serve at risk,” Mhlanga stated.
SANU instructed students to review the full Dress Code Policy contained in the Student Handbook.
The registrar warned that continued non-compliance could result in disciplinary action, including prohibition from entering lecture halls, laboratories and external placement sites.
The university did not state in the memorandum how many students had been found to be in breach of the dress code or how many disciplinary cases had been recorded.
It should be mentioned that the institution’s vision is to be a Christ-centred institution that is financially sustainable and best known for academic excellence in the Southern Africa region.
‘We were not consulted on matter’
SANU Student Representative Council (SRC) President Sifiso Fakudze says they were not consulted on the issue of the dress code.
He said the student body was equally surprised when they received the memo from management without having been engaged on the matter.
He said this was a delicate issue, given that a dress code can violate other rights, and they ought to have been engaged before the memorandum was issued.
However, Fakudze acknowledged that this was a Christian-oriented institution and, as students, he did not believe that there was an issue with conforming to the acceptable standards as far as dressing was concerned.
“As a Christian institution, I believe that we have to uphold acceptable morals in the way that we dress. However, the management was supposed to engage us in this matter before the memorandum,” he said.
When asked if the students accepted the contents of the memorandum, Fakudze said currently, only one faculty had returned to school, and the rest of the students would be coming back at different times over the next few days, starting from tomorrow.
He said it was only when the students have all returned that they can get their feelings on the issue.
Fakudze submitted that the main issue was with the students in years two and three, who have already bought their uniforms. He said management may have made its observations from some of these students and, given the meagre student allowances, the question then would be how will they buy new school uniforms.
