FOR SA - Weekly Update - 23 February 2024

Here is your weekly update, giving the latest developments on the Spy Bill, the Marriage Bill and the upcoming School Governing Body elections.

‍The Spy Bill

Thank you to all those who commented on the Spy Bill.  When the deadline for submissions through the Dear South Africa closed on 15 February 2024, over 23,000 submissions had been made, with the vast majority opposing the Bill in its current form.  The main concerns were the loss of any meaningful right to privacy and an unaccountable and invasive system of State surveillance being established.  FOR SA made an in-person presentation to the Ad Hoc Committee to reinforce the concerns of the faith community and we will be following this matter closely. 

The Marriage Bill

The revised Marriage Bill has been tabled in Parliament.  This Bill with bring together the various laws that currently govern different marriage relationships in South Africa.  The good news is that one of our biggest concerns is resolved.  The Bill now includes an express clause that fully protects the religious freedom rights of religious marriage officers, who cannot be forced to solemnise any marriage that conflicts with their conscience or the tenets of their beliefs.  This is a big relief, although we will continue to push for the same religious freedom protection to be extended to State-employed marriage officers.

School Governing Body (SGB) elections – March 2024

These national elections take place in March to decide who will govern each public school for the next three years and significantly influence the education each learner will experience.

If your child attends a public school, you can vote and/or stand as a member for your SGB. Parents must always be the majority on a SGB and a parent must always be the chairperson, so parents control the culture and the context of the school.  As a parent – and particularly if you are a person of faith – being a member of the SGB is the most important protection you have to ensure that no one interferes with or undermines at school the beliefs and values that you want to teach your child.

SGBs are the watchmen and gatekeepers of public schools, and have authority in the following key areas:

* They guide the school’s culture and climate by deciding its vision and mission, ethos and values.  This includes writing policies to allow religious observances to take place.

 * They approve teaching materials and policies (admission, language, religion, code of conduct etc). This prevents ideological content from being pushed into the school.

 * They appoint and promote teachers, which can prevent ideological activists from pushing their views and values onto children.

 * They determine how school facilities are used.  This will include renting school premises for use by religious organisations.

The active participation of parents in the governance of their child’s school is therefore crucial. It is very easy to get involved – simply ask the school to make sure that your name is on the voter roll. If you want to stand as a member of the SGB, ask the school to give you a nomination form and the details of the election process.  And even if you are not standing as a candidate, make sure you vote to support another parent who is willing to serve in this role and whose values you share.

 More information….

For more information on these matters and other freedom of religion matters, go to the www.forsa.org.za website, follow FOR SA on Facebook at Freedom of Religion SA or visit our FOR SA YouTube channel.

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