Written by: FORSA
Article source: forsa.org.za
On Wednesday, 19 January the Johannesburg High Court (sitting as an Equality Court) will hear the matter between Mthembu and Mthembu v Christian Life Private School & Others. This case will decide whether private religious schools can require learners and parents to abide by their agreements to conform, and hold to, the school’s religious policies and rules. Should the Court decide “no”, the case will have major ramifications for the autonomy of all private religious schools (whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc.) and their rights to establish admission and related policies specific to their faith, beliefs and ethos.
The case concerns a private Christian school which refused to allow a Zulu learner to attend school while wearing a traditional ceremonial goat-skin bracelet, called an isiphandla. This bracelet commemorates a ceremony which connects a young person to their ancestors, and is traditionally worn until it breaks off from the wrist. The school argues that, because the wearing of an isiphandla is a religious practice and part of traditional African beliefs, it conflicts with the school’s Biblical ethos and beliefs. The school temporarily sent the learner home, with learning material so that he could continue his studies, until the moment the bracelet fell off naturally as required by Zulu custom / belief. The learner’s parents then took the school to court, alleging the school unfairly discriminated against their son on grounds of culture. They are asking the school to pay R300 000,00 in damages. Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) is an amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the matter.
“Although wearing an isiphandla would certainly be allowed in public schools, private religious schools are very different because they are specifically established to provide education within the context of certain religious beliefs, practices, and ethos. Parents, learners and staff join these schools precisely for this reason”, says FOR SA’s Executive Director, Michael Swain. “Should the Court decide against the school, it would set a dangerous precedent for all private religious schools in the country, who could then be forced to act against their religious convictions and beliefs. This would completely undermine the very reason for these schools’ existence and goes directly against the constitutional right to establish and maintain private religious schools (section 29(3)) read with sections 15, 16 and 31 of the Constitution.”
The case is expected to be heard virtually.
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Date published: 14/01/2022
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Go to another school that does not have a religious ethos in conflict with what you believe. You knew that when you sent your son to the above mentioned school. And you are asking R300,000.00 in damages?? You are a joke. Run away!!!
We are standing with the school in prayer to our Heavenly Father to protect the school with it’s Christian ethos. I pray also that Christians themselves make sure they have not embraced heathen practices learned from Hollywood and the liberal media which is a bad example, like tight clothing and bad moral values as is so rampant in these times.
Matthew 10:36-37.
36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
It is the word of God only that will rightly judge this case. As believers, we should not be swayed in faith by principles of the world; our focus is not on the victories that will pass with the distraction of this world. The school has won the case that matters; that of applying the wisdom of the word in Romans 14:20-22
Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.
In such a sensitive situation, I pray that in the process, the parents may see the light of Christ and turn to from elemental spirits of the world, to God’s Spirit through Faith in Christ.
As believers of the Word of God, we can expect more, and even worse situation of conflict that will test our faith and commitment to God’s word. It is the last hour, we are warned.
God bless you all.
I pray that the child be delivered from the spirits and be learnt about the Love of God that saves, that he may grow to be the a God fearing youth. If this case provides an opportunity for this outcome, and / or that one or both parents get to learn about the truth and to know Christ, the school has won a bigger battle.