A teacher in South Africa allegedly cut the sacred thread from the wrist of a Hindu student, after which community members condemned this ‘insensitive and irresponsible’ act. The incident took place last week at the Drakensberg Secondary School in KwaZulu-Natal province.
The South African Hindu Mahasabha (SAHMS) has demanded action from the education authorities after the alleged incident. The teacher claimed that the wearing of religious or cultural symbols is not allowed in the school.
The organization in a press statement said, “SAHMS strongly condemns the insensitive and irresponsible action of a teacher to cut the sacred thread of a Hindu student.”
It added that they are investigating the alleged incident of religious intolerance at the school but the probe is being hampered as the victim is refusing to come forward for fear of further victimisation.
SAHMS president Ashwin Trikamji discussed with the school administration and told that the school’s principal and the chairman of the governing body are themselves Hindus.
Trikamji referred to an old case when the Supreme Court of South Africa ruled in favor of a Hindu student. That student was prevented from wearing a nose pin in her nose, but the court had said that no person can be deprived of his religious or cultural practices.
Trikamji also blamed the Ministry of Education for the incident, stating that the ministry has shown failure to provide clear guidelines of religious and cultural tolerance to the schools.
According to sources, after this incident, the possibility of religious conflict erupting in the area has also increased. The South African Constitution protects religious rights and prohibits unfair discrimination, but such incidents can harm religious harmony. The government has established the statutory Human Rights Commission and the Cultural, Religious and Language (CRL) Rights Commission to act on any complaints related to discriminatory practices.
