A teacher at Drakensburg Secondary School in KwaZulu-Natal allegedly cut off a sacred religious thread from the wrist of a Hindu student, triggering widespread condemnation from the Hindu community. The incident, which occurred last week, has been described as an act of religious intolerance by the South African Hindu Maha Sabha (SAHMS), a leading Hindu organization in the country.
The SAHMS has called on education authorities to take swift action against the teacher, asserting that schools must not discriminate against religious practices. According to reports, the teacher justified the action by claiming that the school does not permit the wearing of cultural or religious symbols.
The SAHMS issued a press statement on Sunday, 2 February 2025, condemning the teacher’s actions and launching an investigation into the matter. However, the probe has been hindered as the affected student has refused to come forward, reportedly fearing further victimization.
SAHMS president Ashwin Trikamjee stated that both the school principal and the chairman of the school’s governing body assured him over the phone that religious discrimination was not practiced at their institution. He added that they emphasized their own adherence to religious customs, including wearing rings and strings, but acknowledged that no official written response had been provided yet.
Trikamjee pointed to a past ruling by South Africa’s Constitutional Court, which had decided in favor of a Hindu student who had been barred from wearing a nose ring at school. He highlighted that the court had reaffirmed the right of individuals to practice their cultural and religious beliefs without interference.
The incident at Drakensburg Secondary School has reportedly led to inter-religious tensions in the area, raising concerns about the broader implications of religious intolerance in educational institutions.
South Africa’s Constitution explicitly prohibits discrimination on various grounds, including religion, under the South African Charter of Religious Rights and Freedoms. Additionally, the government has established statutory bodies such as the Human Rights Commission and the Cultural, Religious, and Language (CRL) Rights Commission to address complaints related to discrimination.
Trikamjee criticized the education ministry for failing to provide schools with clear guidelines on religious and cultural tolerance, stating that this has resulted in inconsistent policy enforcement across institutions.
However, Muzi Mahlambi, spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, dismissed this criticism. He maintained that the South African Constitution is the highest legal authority and that any school policy contradicting it is unacceptable. Mahlambi also noted that the Department of Education has already instructed all schools to review and revise their codes of conduct to align with constitutional protections, ensuring that no student faces punishment for their religious beliefs.
Indian-origin South African CRL Commissioner Raj Govender called for the school to amend its policies to accommodate the religious and cultural needs of minority communities. He stressed that teachers must exercise neutrality when addressing matters of faith in schools.
Govender stated that if the allegations against the teacher were true, it would represent a serious violation of professional conduct, as educators should not interfere with students’ religious practices.
(With inputs from India Today)
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