The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has launched an investigation into allegations of racial intolerance at Drakensberg Secondary School in Estcourt. The incident involves reports that two Hindu pupils were instructed to remove or conceal their red (Luxmi) prayer strings during school hours.
According to an IOL article, one of the students stated that a Muslim teacher asked them to remove their Laxmi strings. When the matter was reported to the school principal, who is also Hindi, he announced at a school assembly last Tuesday, that Hindi students should hide the strings during school hours.
The matter was then reported to the South African Hindu Maha Sabha (SAHMS) for investigation.
Two days ago the school posted on their Facebook page that the Escourt Hindi Society had an engagement with the school principal, the School Governing Body (SGB) and teacher representatives regarding these allegations. They also mentioned that they were conducting an internal investigation on the matter.
The Department, in a media statement issued on Sunday, emphasized the constitutional right to religious freedom, as enshrined in Section 15 of the 1996 Constitution of South Africa’s Bill of Rights. The statement reiterated that everyone has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief, and opinion.
In response to the allegations, the Department announced its intention to conduct a thorough investigation to assess the circumstances and depth of the incident.
To address the allegations of racial intolerance at Drakensberg Secondary School in Estcourt, Department officials have been dispatched to the school to understand the depth of the allegations.
In the meantime, the officials from Department of Education will assess and finalise the matter.
