The SA Council of Churches stands firmly with the African Christian Democratic Party in its stance against the removal of Christian holidays from the public calendar.
SACC general secretary Rev Mautji Pataki said on Tuesday night the council would participate in all public hearings and mobilise support to make sure Christian holidays remain as they are.
“The commission will be doing a great disservice if they cut down the holidays. They will be cutting down where there is nothing to cut.”
The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities has scheduled revision meetings to determine whether the Christian holidays are given preferential treatment over other religions.
This was after the commission received four complaints about the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994.
Commission chief executive Pheagane Moreroa said they did not aim to do away with Christian holidays, but wanted to encourage equal treatment for other religions and cultures.
“We received four complaints from people in their personal capacities. The first raised issues of unfairness, highlighting that calendar holidays only favoured Christians, whereas people from other faiths have to sacrifice a day’s leave. The second and fourth complainants claim that sole recognition of Christianity deepened religious divides,” said Moreroa.
Pataki said he accepted that the country was “very diverse and that other religions must also be considered”, but pointed out that censuses had proved that 79 percent of South Africans were Christian.
ACDP president Kenneth Meshoe questioned the commission’s motivation.
“Easter Monday, was changed to Family Day, and Ascension Day has already been removed from the calendar.
“Christians didn’t say anything before, but we can no longer remain quiet when the only two remaining Christian holidays are now under review,” he said.
Public meetings are scheduled for Thursday in Bloemfontein, on Friday in Bethlehem, on June 21 in Durban and on June 28 in Cape Town. The Joburg hearings were held on Thursday in Rosebank.
The Star