The Times reports the Law Reform Commission is having another look at these two holidays in a discussion paper that argues that equal weight should be considered for all religious holidays.
The commission said there was an element of “prejudicial treatment” in that two Christian holidays – Christmas Day and Good Friday – are both paid public holidays while believers of other religions who need to celebrate different faith-based days might be disadvantages. It is for this reason that the status of both days are being reviewed.
The South African government has already changed a couple of Christian holidays since 1994. In that year Ascension Day was removed from the holiday calendar and Easter Monday was changed to Family Day. In 2004 the Department of Home Affairs opened a discussion on the number of South African holidays but never completed it.
