CRL Rights Commission conducts nationwide seminars on the laws and practices in workplace and institution of learning vs cultural and religious rights of communities (dress code policies) in provinces

The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Commission’) is a constitutional human rights institution established by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa in 2004 to strengthen constitutional democracy with specific reference to the rights of culture, religion and linguistic communities.

The Commission received complaints from KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State, North West, and Western Cape Province concerning the dress code in the workplace and at schools, as well as the need to reasonably accommodate those who have to undergo the process of becoming traditional healers.

Employees at certain workplaces and learners/pupils at various schools were ordered to remove their cultural and religious symbols such as the wrist string, isiphandla, beads, forehead dot, dreadlocks, etc. Those training to become traditional healers are not allowed to take leave nor are they accommodated in their respective workplace.   

The Commission made recommendations to various organs of state in 2010 (Department of Labour and Basic education) proposing amendment of the laws – legislation, policy, rules, and also gave advice to both the private and public bodies on how to handle matters of leave application for traditional healing initiates and dress code in the workplace and schools. Despite the said recommendations, the Commission continues to receive excess of the concerns and complaints around this matter. 

Accordingly, the Commission deems it appropriate that it conduct the national seminars in order to engage the relevant departments and institutions on the matter.

The aims and objectives of the national seminar will be to:

• Facilitate resolution of friction on the matters at hand
• Engage organs of state, concerned communities, and other institutions on the matters of concern
• Advice the organs of state on court judgment on the subject matter
• Propose amendments on legislation, national policy, internal policies, rules and circulars in order to address the discriminatory conduct which undermines peoples’ rights to equality, human dignity, freedom of religion, belief and opinion and labour rights.

Schedule of national seminar on the laws and practices in workplace and institution of learning vs. cultural and religious rights of communities is as follows:

Invited and expected to attend are government departments, concerned and affected cultural and religious communities, business community, and labour. 

For media interviews contact:
Sipho Mantula
Communications and Marketing Officer
Cell: 083 233 1538
Tel: 011 537 7628
Email: sipho@crlcommission.org.za

Advocate Sedupane
Cell: 082 889 3885