Preparatory engagement on the status of cultural, religious and linguistic rights in South Africa in planning for the National Consultative Conference in February 2013 will be held in Gauteng province, 23rd of August 2012

The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities ( referred as “the CRL Rights Commission”) is mandated to promote respect for and further the protection of the rights of cultural, religious and linguistic communities; promote and develop peace, friendship, humanity, tolerance, national unity among and within cultural, religious and linguistic communities on the basis of equality, non-discrimination and free association and to promote the right of communities to develop their historically diminished heritage.

Delegates that attended the first provincial CRL Rights Commission consultative seminar and engagement held in Mpumalanga on the 7th of August 2012 raised the following in brief:

• Discussion on cultural practices  versus  women rights including  polygamy,ukuthwala,ukungena, ukuhlolwa and many more;
• The same sex marriage relationships and its conflict with other cultural practices;
• Recognition of cultural and religious significant days of the various tribes in South Africa;
• Introduction of Mother tongue African languages in early learning institutions,  work stations and media institutions;
• The re-writing of  South African history curriculum  as part of nation building and strengthening  social cohesion;
• Proposal to  build  heritage museum  by the Department of Arts and Culture to create employment and preserve the pride of the nation;
• Concern with the flood of the foreign African and non African nationals in South Africa and disregard of  home grown cultural practices;
• Gross human rights violations by farmers against African workers and thus disrupt the social cohesion mobilisation;
• Concern with the legislation that permitted termination of pregnancy and disregarding the  African cultural practices;
• Concern with the  destruction, re-use and protection of burial grounds and graves in the farming communities;
• A need to  indentify  all cultural  and religious heritage sites in the country and
• A need for collaboration between local municipalities and traditional leaders on issues of Culture, language and leadership.

Eighteen years (18) into South African constitutional democracy, the CRL Rights Commission is approaching the second step of nation-wide provincial engagements to evaluate the status and progress done on the implementation of cultural, religious and linguistic communities ‘s rights by organs of the state, other cultural and human rights institutions, public and private institutions. This will ultimately culminate in the hosting of the Legislative National Consultative Conference (NCC) in February 2013 in Gauteng Province.

Some of the objectives of these provincial seminars/engagements include:

• Establishment of a stage where South African Cultural, Religious and Language Communities are called to review progress on the implementation of  cultural, religious  and language rights;
• Identify and deliberation on challenges hindering social cohesion and nation building in South Africa;
• Gather written submissions and verbal inputs on the state of affairs relating to cultural, religious and linguistic rights in South Africa;
• Facilitate discussions and open dialogue on cultural, religious and language issues;
• Mobilising community-based structures and other relevant stakeholders to participate in forums, advocacy programmes and other initiatives in preparation for the NCC in February 2013.

The national schedule of CRL Rights Commission Provincial Preparatory Consultative Seminars/Engagements is as follows:

For pre, during and post media interviews contact:

Adv Sipho Mantula
Communications and Marketing Officer
Tel: 011 537 7628
Cell: 084 781 5587/083 233 1538
E-mail: sipho@crlcommission.org.za