Die reg op godsdiensvryheid in Suid-Afrikaanse skole

I.J. Oosthuizen

doi:10.4102/koers.v65i4.485

Abstract

The right to religious freedom in South African schoolsIn general, religion is to be regarded as one of the most important aspects of human life and as one of the key human functions that distinguishes a human being from the rest of creation. For this reason, religious freedom is deemed by many to be the “first liberty" to be protected by any Bill of Rights. However, protecting everyone’s religious freedom on an equal and equitable basis is sometimes easier said than done. In the USA, for instance, in an effort to protect the religious rights and freedom of all, a wall of separation between state and religion was implemented on the basis of the US "establishment clause”: the American State is compelled to maintain a neutral stance as far as religious matters are concerned. In the eyes of some representatives of the US academe, this approach to the protection of religious freedom ultimately led to the US government’s becoming the “enemy of religion” in American schools. In the 1998 case of Wittmann v Deutscher Schulverein, Pretoria the court confirmed that the drafters of the South African constitution steered the issue of religious freedom on a different course to that of the United States. In Wittmann it was held that the South African constitution did not create a wall of separation between church and state (i.e. schools) and that it is the constitutional right of every person (i.e. the learner and the teacher) at school to "entertain such beliefs as a person chooses". The court also held that everyone at school has the right to confess his/her faith and to participate freely in religious worship and religious practice (and even teach and disseminate religion) at school.

Highlights

Religion is to be regarded as one of the most important aspects o f human life and as one o f the key human functions that distinguishes a human being from the rest o f creation
In the 1998 case o f Wittmann v Deutscher Schulverein, Pretoria the court confirmed that the drafters of the South African constitution steered the issue o f religious freedom on a different course to that o f the United States
In Wittmann it was held that the South African constitution did not create a wall o f separation between church and state and that it is the constitutional right o f every person at school to "entertain such beliefs as a person chooses"

Summary

Inleiding

Godsdiens word allerweë bestempel as een van die heel belangrikste aspekte van menswees; trouens, dit is een van die eienskappe van die mens wat horn onderskei van die res van die skepping (Venter, 1998:4). Onder Christene is daar baie voorbeelde van geweld teen nieChristene en ook van vervolging onderling vanweë die feit dat daar geen ruimte was vir die uitlewing van godsdiens- en gewetensvryheid nie. Ter. I J Oosthuizen ondersteuning van dié sienswyse maak hy voorts die volgende opmerking: Religious liberty was universally accepted as the ’first liberty’ to be protected by any Bill of Rights. I J Oosthuizen ondersteuning van dié sienswyse maak hy voorts die volgende opmerking: Religious liberty was universally accepted as the ’first liberty’ to be protected by any Bill of Rights It is 'the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights’ Jefferson put it. Dit is egter nie net die kerk wat so ’n onbelem m erde ruimte behoort te hê nie: elke Christen het die opdrag ontvang om as individu heen te gaan, die Woord te verkondig om sodoende dissipels te maak

Begripsverheldering

Die prominensie van godsdiensvryheid in die SuidAfrikaanse Grondwet

Die onpartydigheid van die staat

Die reg op godsdiensvryheid

Staat en staatsondersteunde instellings

Besondere beperkingsbepalings

Wat impliseer openbare gesag?

Vry en vrywillig

Privaatskole

Samevatting