School order on long hair challenged
This is a black on black violence- says Commission
A FATHER of an eight-year-old schoolboy has lodged a formal complaint with the Nazareth Judiciary Committee against Shemula Primary School in Ingwavuma, objecting
to a school order that his son should cut his hair – an act he claims is against his religion.
Mzwakhe Sithole says he was shocked when his son handed him a letter from the school principal, stating all learners with long hair would not be provided with free stationery next year.
‘As a member of the Nazareth Baptised Church, this attitude is an attack on my religion. I can’t afford to buy school stationery, which is provided by government.
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‘I don’t have that kind of money and will not compromise my beliefs because of that,’ he said.
‘What the school is doing is against the law. That’s why I have approached the Nazareth Judiciary Committee for intervention.’
The Nazareth Judiciary Committee Chairperson, Wellington Myeni, confirmed receiving Sithole’s complaint.
‘We don’t have a choice but to take this matter to the Equality Court, as we feel that the religious rights of these people are being violated.
‘Last year we had a meeting with the KZN Department of Education, together with the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistics groups. The commission ordered the department to inform all district directors and principals of schools to refrain from violating our religious rights.
‘If these things were to happen to a Christian, the MEC for Education would be running around condemning this behaviour,’ Myeni said.
KZN Department of Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said they will visit the school to address the principal about the cultural and religious policy of the department.
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