Strydom v Nederduitse Gereformeerde Gemeente Moreleta Park

Strydom v Nederduitse Gereformeerde Gemeente Moreleta Park
Strydom v Nederduitse Gereformeerde Gemeente Moreleta Park
Court	Transvaal Provincial Division; sitting as an Equality Court
Full case name	Johan Daniel Strydom v Nederduitse Gereformeerde Gemeente Moreleta Park
Decided	27 August 2008
Citations	[2008] ZAGPHC 269; [2008] ZAEQC 1; 30 ILJ 868
Court membership
Judge sitting	DA Basson
Keywords
	employment discrimination; right to equality; freedom of religion; LGBT rights;

Strydom v Nederduitse Gereformeerde Gemeente Moreleta Park is a 2008 decision of the Transvaal Provincial Division of the High Court of South Africa in which the court held that it was unlawful for a church to fire a music teacher because of his sexual orientation. The plaintiff, Johan Strydom, was employed by the Moreleta Park congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church (NGK) until his contract was terminated because he was in a same-sex relationship. This was found to be unfair discrimination that was unlawful under the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act. The church was ordered to pay R87,000 in damages and offer an unconditional apology.^[1] The decision was criticised by some religious and political groups who claimed that it infringed on freedom of religion.^[2]

References

^ "Court rules in gay man's favour". News24. SAPA. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
^ "Court's gay ruling upsets Christian bodies". Mail & Guardian. 29 August 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2014.