The Constitutional Framework for the Protection of Religious and Related Rights in South Africa

This chapter depicts, discusses and evaluates the framework within which the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 guarantees religious rights and freedom. The framework metaphor suggests that the Constitution provides a general – and by that token fairly ‘neutral’ – (legal) scaffolding for the even-handed treatment of all religious individuals and groups who hold and manifest their religious beliefs, and conduct their religious observances in most divergent ways. This framework is certainly meant – and has the potential – to stand traditional African religions in as good stead as other religions.