A nine-year-old pupil who was barred from a Christian school for wearing isiphandla (cultural bracelet made from animal skin) has emerged victorious.
Gauteng education spokesperson Steve Mabona said yesterday the director of independent schools in the department visited Christian Life Private School to conduct an investigation on the isiphandla exclusion matter. A decision was then taken that the child must be reinstated.
"The misunderstanding between the parent and the school was on the basis of the difference in versions/sects of Christianity. The school was engaged on the underlying principles and constitutional imperatives.
"They have since written to the parent to reinstate the learner back to school. The department will continue to support both the learner and the school," Mabona said.
However, his parents won't take him back as they feel the school in Buccleuch, Johannesburg, isn't remorseful.
In an exclusive interview on Monday, Sowetan reported that the school had prevented the boy from entering the school and sent him back home on Thursday for wearing isiphandla. Principal Virginia Naidoo, who waited for him at the gate and barred him from entering, served him with a letter saying he would not be allowed in because of isiphandla.
The child's mother, who broke down last night during an interview with Sowetan, said she wouldn't be taking her son back to the school after she was told in a meeting with the school's leadership that "ancestors are demonic caricatures".
The mother, whose name is withheld to protect her son's identity, said she was hurt and disappointed when the school reiterated its views in a meeting held on Monday. "I was told that in terms of their Christian beliefs, ancestors are demonic caricatures... and that the Bible is against ancestors and the spirit world. I was told that they would pray for the isiphandla to fall off," she said.
She said she ended up struggling to gather herself and cried at the meeting as she felt the school sees nothing wrong with its actions to bar her son. "There was no apology from them whatsoever, they see nothing wrong with what they've done. I'm not gonna take my son there, I fear he's going to be victimised," she said
"It felt like a dream, I then asked what do they consider their grandparents or family members who have passed on. They said they consider those to be angels. I was shocked."
The school had sent the boy's parents a letter dated July 23, the day the child was turned away, which stated that the wearing of isiphandla brought "a belief in the protection of the ancestors which is contradictory to our belief in the blood of Jesus and His victory on the cross of Calvary".
The letter was written by pastor and board chairperson Lindsey Lefebure, who was also at the Monday meeting with the mother. Naidoo could not be reached for comment yesterday and she did not respond to text messages.
"I would have maybe understood if they had given me an apology, that is why I'm gonna take this forward. These are people's lives, here it's a life of a nine-year-old. He just wants to be at school and be with his friends," the mother said.
The mother said she received an email from the school saying the boy can come back with isiphandla. She is yet to respond to it.
She said she told the school on Monday that she needed three days and would seek legal advice first.
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