COMMENTS OPPOSING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IN TERMS OF THE PROMOTION OF EQUALITY AND PREVENTION OF UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION AMENDMENT BILL (PEPUDA, or the Equality Act).

We the undersigned, citizens of South Africa, oppose the proposed amendments in terms of the Promotion of Equality and the Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Amendment Bill (PEPUDA)

These amendments constitute an unfair discrimination and is a threat to the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of religion in our country.  The Act, as is, is sufficient. We reject all the proposed changes in their entirety.

This proposed Amendment Bill will make every individual and institution of faith a target and lead to a flood of litigation.

Further, punitive sanctions (fines, even jail time or closure of religious institutions) against individuals and institutions of faith are envisaged, simply for expressing and practicing one's religious beliefs!

Should the proposed amendments be passed, it will also give the State powers to regulate non-governmental organisations, community organisations and traditional institutions.

The South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) is calling all religious leaders, institutions of faith, people of faith and South Africans in general to be informed of this severe threat to religious freedom by these proposed amendments, and to ensure Government hears our voices of objection!

It is your duty to ensure that all freedom-based rights (and indeed all human rights entrenched in our constitution) are not eroded by perceived "well meaning" legislation. The State cannot seek to protect some rights by curtailing others.