A potentially dangerous case that could have major ramifications for all faith-based independent schools (whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc.) has been instituted in the Equality Court of the Johannesburg High Court. The case concerns Christian Life Private School, an independent school subscribing to Christian beliefs and values in Johannesburg. The […]
Tag: FOR SA
Same-sex couple enters fray, wants R2m from Beloftebos
The unfair discrimination case instituted against Beloftebos wedding venue by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has intensified after another same-sex couple filed legal papers against Beloftebos, seeking R2 million in damages for the impairment of their dignity and pain and suffering. In their application, Sasha-Lee Heekes and Megan […]
WATCH: FOR SA welcomes relaxation of worship gathering rules but questions unfair treatment of larger facilities
The relaxation of numerical restrictions on religious gatherings announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last night has been welcomed by Freedom of Religion SA, says Advocate Nadene Badenhorst, legal counsel to FOR SA. The new rules, which become effective at midnight on Sunday, permit places of worship to accommodate people up […]
Hopes for positive government response on limits to religious gatherings — FOR SA
Freedom of Religion SA executive director Michael Swain says that following a Zoom meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday FOR SA is hopeful for a positive response from the government on religious leaders’ request for limits on religious gatherings to be eased to 50% of floor space. Below is his […]
WATCH: FOR SA asks government if it plans to relax regulations for religious sector
Following publication of the #Lockdown Level 2 Regulations on Monday, #FORSA yesterday wrote to Minister Dlamini-Zuma to ask whether Government intends to relax the regulations pertaining to the religious sector, in line with the rest of the economy. In the letter FOR SA says that it seems “unfair and inequitable” […]
PE church responds to police threat regarding drive-in services
Word of Faith Christian Centre (WOF) in Port Elizabeth sent a lawyer’s letter to police yesterday opposing a threat to charge churches who host more than 50 people at drive-in services. In the letter to SAPS spokesman Col Priscilla Naidu, who reportedly conveyed the threat via a local radio station, […]
‘Urgent clarity needed on directions for religious gatherings’ — FOR SA
By FOR SA Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) has written to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to request clarification on the Directions relating to Norms and Standards for Religious Gatherings issued on May 28. The letter thanks government for rightly considering the submissions […]
FOR SA welcomes easing of religious gathering restrictions
Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) has welcomed the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that from June 1, religious leaders will be recognised as essential religious frontline workers for purposes of spiritual counselling and that churches and other places of worship may resume services limited to a maximum of […]
“Beloftebos Case” will test our constitutional protections
By Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) In a previous article, we reported that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has now instituted legal proceedings against Beloftebos (a wedding venue near Stanford, Western Cape) in the Cape Town High Court (sitting as an Equality Court). According to the […]
Government must review ‘unfair’ regulations on religious gatherings, says FOR SA
By Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) When President Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster on March 15th, there was little data about COVID-19 and thus considerable uncertainty and fear. His decision to take decisive action, and the “hard” lockdown regulations that followed, was widely supported. At the […]

