Faizel Patel – 29/01/2021
The Executive Director of Freedom of Religion South Africa or FOR SA says South Africa has a constitutional democracy and freedom of religion has special protection under the constitution.
Michael Swain was speaking to Radio Islam on Friday about forcing government to allow the opening of masaajid, churches, synagogues and other places of worship.
Freedom of Religion South Africa on Thursday issued papers in the Johannesburg High Court to ask that Government’s current and indefinite ban on faith-based gatherings be lifted.
Swain says freedom of religion has more protection under the constitution then even South Africa’s economy.
“So when see that there are similar gatherings which are treated basically differently from religious gatherings, that on its face is arguably unfair discrimination and therefore unconstitutional. What we really asking government to do is not only to lift the ban, but to also give the scientific data, the rationale that have actually guided their decision, because in the absence of scientific data and proper rationale, it will obviously be in that sense unjustifiable.”
Swain says while government allowed casinos to open for economic reasons, places of worship and all those who pray in these places also contribute to the economy.
“There must be equal treatment of different sectors of society and you can’t just simply write-off the religious sector to say ‘well it’s not part of the economy’. It actually is very much part of the economy. People in the religious sector pay taxes, buildings need to be paid for, rates and taxes are paid for. There is an economic component to the religious sector as well. So you can’t simply say that because money trumps everything that’s why we need to treat it differently.”
Swain says For SA also wants religious workers to be recognised as essential workers providing an essential service.
Listen to the interview with Michael Swain
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