MEC Creecy says Occultism and Satanism harmful practices?
According to several media reports published in The Citizen, The New Age, The Sowetan, City Press, News24.com, IOL, Timeslive, LookLocal, Eye Witness News and SABC TV, “A team of faith-based organisations is to develop an “anti-harmful” religious strategy in schools, Gauteng education MEC Barbara Creecy said on Monday. In a statement prepared for delivery at a signing ceremony with religious groups, Creecy said “harmful practices” included Satanism and occultism.”
SOURCES
http://www.thenewage.co.za/87987-1008-53-Teaming_up_to_fight_Satanism
The Sowetan- ‘Schools tackle Satanism’ 19/03/2013
http://www.citypress.co.za/news/anti-harmful-religious-strategy-for-schools/
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Faith-issue-in-schools-tackled-20130318
http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/faith-issue-in-schools-tackled-1.1488386#.UUjJYBemjnY
http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2013/03/19/education-department-seeks-divine-intervention
http://ewn.co.za/Media/2013/03/18/130318barbara
The South African Pagan Rights Alliance herewith lodges a formal complaint against prejudicial and libelous statements made by the Gauteng Education MEC Barbara Creecy and the Gauteng Department of Education against religious minorities in South Africa.
The MEC’s reported statements regarding “occultism” and “satanism” constitute hate speech against religious minorities who have nothing whatsoever to do with recent cases of alleged satanic activity popularized by the South African media.
From such statements one must assume that the Department of Education has every intention to deliberately indoctrinate South African pupils with religious prejudice against Occultism and Satanism, in contravention of accepted policy on religion and education which requires that religious education be presented in classrooms in a non-partisan and non-prejudicial way.
This Alliance will argue that MEC Creecy’s statements constitute hate speech against religious minorities in terms of the Equality Act (with respect to Chapter 2 section 6) and contravenes the Bill of Rights (with respect to chapter 2 section 15).
Promotion Of Equality And Prevention Of Unfair Discrimination Act 2000 (No. 4, 2000)
Chapter 2 – Prevention, Prohibition And Elimination Of Unfair Discrimination, Hate Speech And Harassment
Prevention and general prohibition of unfair discrimination
6. Neither the State nor any person may unfairly discriminate against any person.
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa
Chapter Two – Bill of Rights
Section 15 – Freedom of religion, belief and opinion
Everyone has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion.
This Alliance seeks immediate redress for prejudicial statements uttered against members of minority faiths, Occultism (which includes Witchcraft) and Satanism, in this country.