The deadline for submissions to the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) regarding what many Christians perceive as a threat to remove Good Friday and Christmas public holidays is next Tuesday (June 30, 2015).
The deadline was originally May 31 but the SALRC subsequently extended it to June 30.
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In an email to Gateway News today the SALRC acknowledges that it has recommended the review of legislation dealing with the two Christian holidays with a view to addressing “an element of unequal treatment” of other faiths. But is says it has not recommended “the removal of any religious holiday”.
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In an emailed reply to questions from Gateway News today, SALRC spokersperson, Maureen Moloi, says: “The South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) would like to place on record that it has not proposed or recommended the removal of Easter and Christmas as public holidays. At/On page 56 of the Discussion Paper 133 the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 is discussed and the SALRC recommends to the Department of Home Affairs that since there is an element of unequal treatment, the section should be reviewed. It is also suggested that either these holidays be reviewed or that equal weight be given to religious holidays of other faiths. There is therefore, no recommendation in the discussion paper for the removal of any religious holiday. The closing date for submissions on Discussion Paper 133 was 31 May 2015 and has been extended to 30 June 2015.”
Confirming Moloi’s outline of the SALRC recommendation on Discussion Paper 133, SALRC Commissioner Irvin Lawrence, says in an email that the commission “does not support any particular position on the matter and the recommendations made are informed by one of our responsibilities which is [to] identify potentially unequal and/or discriminatory provisions in legislation”.
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Whatever the SALRC’s technically correct position on the Christian public holidays, it is clear that many Christians believe there is an attempt to remove them. It is also this reporter’s view that the SALRC’s above arguments that it is not targeting Easter and Christmas would not alleviate the concerns of most Christians.
Asked about the number and breakdown of submissions received to date, Moloi says the SALRC “has received quite a lot of responses and submissions” and that the submissions are “all-inclusive”. Details about the submissions will be disclosed in a report that will be compiled after considering the content of all the submissions, she says.
Christians who still want to make submissions to the SALRC by the Tuesday (June 30) deadline, can submit written comment and representations to the SALRC’s by e-mail to gmoloi@justice.gov.za. Or they can sign the petition at http://handsoffchristianholidays.yolasite.com/petition.php. Guidelines on submissions can be found at https://gatewaynews.co.za/hands-off-good-friday-and-christmas-act-now/.
Removing Christian holiday’s is a sign of not acknowledging God in our society. Sometimes we need to ask ourselves if we became gods to ourselves by putting our acknowledgements be for God’s. Not referring to the commercial factor that accompanies these days, The pioneers who introduced these Christian holiday’s many years ago left us with good legacy which yielded good results so I say why abolish principles that always brought good to the world, what will it be replaced with?
Christianity is by far the most widely practised religion in South Africa so although the Government is not an open Christian one surely we deserve the acknowledgement by retaining the two most Holy Days.
The message of the cross must be demonstrated EVERY day.Celebrating once a year is just RELIGIOUS PT.
25 of December is all about the “birth of the sun” and has NOTHING to do with the birth of the SON !
Removing recognizing and honouring God in South African society will have the same affect as removing Him from our schools. Allow God back into our schools and see the marked improvement in education. Honour God Almighty and see our nation exalted in the international community. Turn your back on God and He has no option but to take His hands off our beloved South Africa.
I feel that our country is moving further and further away from God and as Christians we need to put pressure on our government to turn back to God and to honour Christmas and Easter
Christian public holidays MUST stay. Since the Bible was forced out of schools, look what is happening at schools today and the behaviour of the youth. Look at the behaviour of our MP’s in Parliament! South Africa must turn back to God, thats the only solution for this country and Parliament must lead by example
The legislative and executive arms of Government should guard against attracting the wrath of God in the name of so called “equality”. If every one needs to be made equal let it begin from the gap between the rich and the poor.