Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi wants the board of a Christian school to take “decisive action” against the author of a newsletter sent to parents that demeans Muslims.
Lesufi told Talk Radio 702 on Thursday evening that the offensive letter from The King’s School in Linbro Park‚ Johannesburg‚ was being taken seriously by his department.
“I’ve already communicated with the school. I’ve sent my team to investigate … they are compiling a report‚” he said.
Also read: Lesufi says situation at racist crèche ‘can be turned around’
The principal‚ he said‚ had responded to the department by undertaking to convene an urgent meeting to address the issue on Monday.
The letter‚ dated June 20‚ was penned by the school’s head of student affairs.
“I’m sure most of you know that much of the property around the school is owned by a Muslim businessman. He has done a lot of development near the school‚ and about two years ago he started construction of a mosque‚” it said.
Each day‚ the Muslim call to prayer could be heard from the school‚ said Fuller‚ and it reminded him about the “vast difference between Muslim and Christian prayers”.
“Muslims pray in the hope that it might earn them salvation‚ while Christians pray because we already have assurance of salvation‚” said the letter.
“Muslims pray at prescribed times according to a set ritual in the hope that they will be heard‚ while Christians can pray anywhere at any time in any words we may choose with the assurance that every word is heard because of our personal relationship with God.”
The letter was greeted with outrage when it surfaced this week on social media.
Yusuf Abramjee posted a copy of the letter on Twitter‚ adding: “This letter by the Head of Student Affairs -The King’s School Linbro Park is offensive. We need religious tolerance.”
Yusuf Abramjee on Twitter
“I know that some community leaders also have written to the school and the school has acknowledged those letters and have copied me and are taking this matter seriously as a school‚” Lesufi told 702.
“I don’t believe that schools should be centres for religious debate … schools should be centres were our children are exposed to various religions and are given the opportunity and the time to respect their religion and respect other religions and debate issues.
“But if somebody wants to impose their ideas and their wishes and want the young minds to be (polluted) with their views‚ I really feel it’s not fair and it’s not right and that’s why we are taking this matter very seriously‚” he said.
He described the contents of the newsletter as reckless and dangerous.
– TMG Digital
MEC decries letter from Christian school demeaning Muslim beliefs
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi wants the board of a Christian school to take “decisive action” against the author of a newsletter sent to parents that demeans Muslims.
Lesufi told Talk Radio 702 on Thursday evening that the offensive letter from The King’s School in Linbro Park‚ Johannesburg‚ was being taken seriously by his department.
“I’ve already communicated with the school. I’ve sent my team to investigate … they are compiling a report‚” he said.
Also read: Lesufi says situation at racist crèche ‘can be turned around’
The principal‚ he said‚ had responded to the department by undertaking to convene an urgent meeting to address the issue on Monday.
The letter‚ dated June 20‚ was penned by the school’s head of student affairs.
“I’m sure most of you know that much of the property around the school is owned by a Muslim businessman. He has done a lot of development near the school‚ and about two years ago he started construction of a mosque‚” it said.
Each day‚ the Muslim call to prayer could be heard from the school‚ said Fuller‚ and it reminded him about the “vast difference between Muslim and Christian prayers”.
“Muslims pray in the hope that it might earn them salvation‚ while Christians pray because we already have assurance of salvation‚” said the letter.
“Muslims pray at prescribed times according to a set ritual in the hope that they will be heard‚ while Christians can pray anywhere at any time in any words we may choose with the assurance that every word is heard because of our personal relationship with God.”
The letter was greeted with outrage when it surfaced this week on social media.
Yusuf Abramjee posted a copy of the letter on Twitter‚ adding: “This letter by the Head of Student Affairs -The King’s School Linbro Park is offensive. We need religious tolerance.”
Yusuf Abramjee on Twitter
“I know that some community leaders also have written to the school and the school has acknowledged those letters and have copied me and are taking this matter seriously as a school‚” Lesufi told 702.
“I don’t believe that schools should be centres for religious debate … schools should be centres were our children are exposed to various religions and are given the opportunity and the time to respect their religion and respect other religions and debate issues.
“But if somebody wants to impose their ideas and their wishes and want the young minds to be (polluted) with their views‚ I really feel it’s not fair and it’s not right and that’s why we are taking this matter very seriously‚” he said.
He described the contents of the newsletter as reckless and dangerous.
– TMG Digital
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