INLSA
Minister for Higher Education Blade Nzimande
Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande is to launch a probe into a college, which saw one of its campuses on the south coast shut down after a protest by students who claimed that abiding by Islamic custom and religious rules had become mandatory – irrespective of their own faith.
A row erupted at the campus of the Coastal KZN Further Education and Training College last month, as students accommodated in dormitories leased from the As-Salaam Institute demonstrated their opposition to studying the Qur’an, wearing Islamic garments and having to comply with the call to prayer, they said.
The organisation promotes Islamic education.
While a staff member denied that the students were forced to follow the religion, or that the Bible had been ban-ned, he told The Mercury that they were obligated to attend prayers and dress “decently” as they occupied “an Islamic area”.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, a vexed Nzimande pledged to get to the bottom of the matter, arguing that the rights of the students had been violated.
Already, a task team of senior officials has been dispatched to meet with stakeholders including parents and the college’s management.
“I also intend setting up an investigation into how an arrangement of this nature was made by the college. I wish to state that as a constitutional democracy and secular state, no student in any public institution can be forced to practise any religion, irrespective of the circumstances that might have warranted the college to enter into the accommodation arrangements with any institution. I am deeply concerned and worried by these developments and arrangements which are completely unconstitutional and in fact violate the rights of the students who legitimately registered in a public FET college.”
The Jamiatul Ulama KZN said it condemned the actions of religious institutions which compelled non-Muslims to observe Islamic practices as it would be “tantamount to mockery” of the faith.
The organisation’s secretary-general, Rafiek Mohamed, said that such “colonial-like tactics” went directly against both the SA constitution and the fundamental principle of the Qur’an which stated “Let there be no compulsion in (following) the Faith”.
Around 500 students study on the premises, and just over a week ago, more than 70 of the protesting students were evicted from the dormitory.
Their stay, and meals, are funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, and according to the beneficiaries they cannot afford to take up residence elsewhere.
Approached for comment yesterday, the college rector, Patche Tigere, said that he was not prepared to discuss the matter. Zaid Langa, who is in charge of student accommodation and Islamic studies on the campus, referred queries to the spokesman for the As-Salaam institute, who could not be reached for comment.
