Sadtu: KZN Education’s traditional attire call unlawful
Teachers union Sadtu says the call by the Department
of Education in KZN for traditional attire to be worn in honour of Zulu
King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini was not in line with the Schools Act.
The department asked teachers and pupils to wear traditional regalia on Tuesday to pay tribute to the new king following his recent traditional coronation.
SADTU provincial spokesperson Nomarashiya Caluza says while they acknowledge the sentiment to celebrate the historic moment, no cultural ethos must be dominant over another in public schools.
"There is Heritage Month which is in September. That must be used in celebrating activities like this and this history that has been made. Our take is that as Sadtu that we would have encouraged our members and education workers, including learners, to use September to celebrate this because culture must be used as a way of uniting the people."
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KZN Education MEC Mbali Frazer said the celebrations were a success and no one was forced to wear a particular attire.
She says they merely urged the school community to wear their traditional attires without a specific reference to any one culture.
