SHEMBE CHURCH ENTERS HAIR FRAY

Church against cutting of hair

A NATURAL hair row has now hit a Kwa-Zulu-Natal rural school, leaving members of the Shembe church angry that a pupil cut his hair, saying it was against their religion.

A brother of one of five pupils at Ezinhlabeni Secondary School in the Jozini area who were recently turned away from school and told to cut their hair, has lodged a complaint with the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL rights commission).

In a letter, the brother states that his 17-year-old sibling and the other pupils were told to go home on August 25 and come back once they had cut off their hair.

“What hurts us even more is the fact that the school does not respect our religion. In our church, men and women do not cut their hair. Children who go to the Shembe church miss school because they are turned away because of their hair. This has caused us so much pain. Our religion has been discriminated against and disrespected,” the Grade 10 pupil’s 25-year-old brother said.

A father whose 14-year-old daughter was also turned away from school said: “Our children are not allowed to cut their hair and this has become a problem at school. “This hurts us so much. The school does not understand or respect our religion. We all have different religious backgrounds and no one has the right to disrespect other people’s belief systems.”

Parents hope the CRL rights commission will help them sort out the issue. “We need help so that our children can express their religion freely,” the father said.

Commission chairwoman Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said they would look into the matter.

“No one must discriminate against others because of their religion. We have received so many complaints about issues of religion, culture and language where people or children cannot freely embrace what they believe in.”

Spokesman of the church’s e-Buhleni faction Thokozani Mncwabe said: “Growing our hair is the fulfilment of the Nazareth oath. When someone cuts off their hair, they break our church policy. The church has received complaints from members about schools turning away their children. Parents are advised to tell schools about their children’s religion. This will minimise discrimination or having children turned away from schools.”

Provincial education spokesman Muzi Mahlambi said the department would investigate.

PHOTO: THULI DLAMINI According to the Nazareth Baptist Church, also known as Shembe church, its members are not supposed to cut their hair and that includes those who are still in school.