It is expected that music teacher, Johan Strydom, will on Thursday receive a formal apology from the Dutch Reformed Church in Moreleta Park for terminating his contract because he was a practising homosexual.
The Pretoria High Court last month ordered that the church had to unconditionally apologise to Strydom and pay him about R87 000 in damages and loss of pay.
The Church Council on Tuesday evening met and decided they were going to abide by the church ruling.
Earlier on, just after the court ruling, the church said it was going to decide whether to abide by the judgement or to appeal against it.
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Strydom on Wednesday told the Pretoria News from Buffels Baai, where he is holidaying with his parents, that he had not yet received the apology.
"I have taken note of what the church said in a media statement, but I have not yet received anything from them. Until I have a copy of the apology in my hand, I cannot comment on the fact that they have agreed to apologise."
Strydom said his understanding from the court order was that the apology must be in the form of a document or letter to him.
He also commended the church on its decision not to appeal the ruling of Judge Dion Basson.
"I think it was a wise decision."
His lawyer, James Spies, on Wednesday said the church confirmed that it was going to send a letter of apology to Strydom.
"They have contacted me to ask for his e-mail address and he should receive the letter within the next 24 hours." Spies also said it was a wise decision by the church not to appeal.
"This means it is now the end of the matter," he said.
The specific reasons stated by the church for its decision are:
The fundamental right of the church to be free and to believe in what the Bible says, is not affected (by the judgment).
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