Drakensberg Secondary School concerns escalated
THE Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights (CRL) Rights Commission has escalated concerns over religious intolerance at Drakensberg Secondary School to the Minister of Education, following an investigation that cleared the principal and a teacher of wrongdoing.
Last month, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education (KZN DoE) concluded its investigation into the allegations and exonerated both the principal and a teacher.
When the incident first came to light, Professor Brij Maharaj, the Deputy President of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha, said they had escalated the complaints relating to religious intolerance at some schools, especially prejudice towards Hindu pupils and teachers, to the CRL Rights Commission. This, he said, was done on January 24.
'The maha sabha maintained that such actions were insensitive and irresponsible. A critical focus of the CRL is to ensure that 'persons belonging to a religious or linguistic community may not be denied the right to enjoy their culture and practice their religion,' which is entrenched in the South African Constitution.
'It is pleasing to note that on Monday, the CRL informed the South African Hindu Maha Sabha that these complaints had been escalated to the minister of education. More specifically, the CRL is requesting a meeting with the minister of education with a view to a resolution,' said Maharaj.
Maharaj said all schools should practice religious tolerance.
'The maha sabha is requesting that the Minister of Education issue a national notice to all public and private schools informing and requesting all educators in South Africa to be aware of the religious significance of the items worn by Hindus, to be sensitive to the multi-religious and multi-cultural diversity in our country, in order to proactively prevent any unpleasant incidents and negative publicity,' said Maharaj.
Mpiyakhe Mkholo, the senior communication manager at the CRL Rights Commission, said: "We are in the process of writing to the minister of education. Once we receive feedback, we will contact the affected parties and find a way forward."
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