religion Archives - Voice of the Cape

Amid dress code backlash from Muslim nurses, government assures policy is a draft under review

“Healthcare in South Africa is in turmoil and now they want to interfere with our religion.” This is according to Honey Allee, a nursing director at Islamic Medical Association of South Africa clinics who has worked in the profession since 1972. She was commenting on a proposed dress code policy for nurses working at public hospitals that outlaws head scarves. As a Muslim nurse “you have a specific identity and […]

6 September 2023

News

Headscarves are allowed in ID photos: DHA

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has apologised to a Cape Town Muslim woman who was told to remove her headscarf in order to take her ID (identification document) photograph. Saadiqah Saffodien had visited a Home Affairs branch last week to apply for the smart ID card when she was told by the female DHA official that she needed to take off her scarf. Following a post on Facebook by […]

3 February 2020

News

Billionaire Motsepe aims to build unity with Darul Islam Mosque visit

By Yaseen Kippie Dr Patrice Motsepe, The first black billionaire in modern Africa, attended Jumuah proceedings at Darul Islam Mosque in Surrey Estate last week. Labelled the 'the father of the poor, needy and marginilized in South Africa', Motsepe said he felt greatly honoured by the feeling of brotherhood and care at the gathering. A feeling he attributes to the word of God. Motsepe gave a short address to the […]

27 November 2017

Local

FOR SA appeals ‘spanking judgment’

Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) filed an application this week for leave to appeal against the recent judgment by the Johannesburg High Court barring parents from spanking their children. FOR SA’s application‚ which asks for the matter to be referred to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein‚ only relates to the constitutional issue considered by the Court‚ namely whether reasonable and moderate chastisement is congruent with […]

12 November 2017

Local

‘Schools should not adopt one religion to the exclusion of others’ – judge

The High Court in Johannesburg has handed down a ruling on religion in public schools, saying that schools can’t promote one religion. The case was brought by the Organisation for Religious Education and Democracy (OGOD) against six schools. "Religious observances may be conducted at state or state-aided institutions, provided that: (a) Those observances follow rules made by the appropriate public authorities; (b) They are conducted on an equitable basis; and […]

28 June 2017

Local

Constitution says religion can be practiced ‘at’, not ‘by’ schools, court hears

Differences in meaning of the prepositions “at” and “by” support the argument that six public schools contravene the Constitution with their policies on teaching religion, the High Court in Johannesburg heard on Wednesday. During closing arguments, Hendrik van Nieuwenhuizen, for the NGO OGOD, quoted section 15.2 of the Constitution, according to which “religious observances" may be conducted "at", and not "by" public schools, Netwerk24 reported. It was in the interests […]

18 May 2017

News

Religious leaders concerned about Hate Speech Bill

Racism and hate speech remains a thorny issue in South Africa and has become a matter of public discourse in light of a number of high profile cases of racism. But a recently tabled bill directed toward combatting hate speech has surprisingly garnered widespread concern, particularly within religious fraternities. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in 2016 opened for public participation the discussion of Prevention and Combating of Hate […]

15 February 2017

Local

Zuma backtracks on telling clerics to stay out of politics

President Jacob Zuma has sought to clarify his controversial comments about religious leaders and politics. Zuma denies telling religious leaders to be apolitical, saying he instead calls for them to rise above political mudslinging. Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba used his Christmas sermon to tell the president that the church would not stay out of politics. Makgoba said Zuma's statement reminded him of those made by apartheid-era leaders. But Zuma said […]

28 December 2016

religion

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