Dr Rajendran Thangavelu Govender, an advocate for social cohesion, nation-building and a social anthropologist has been appointed to serve on the Commission for the Promotion of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission).
President Cyril Ramaphosa last week appointed members of the Commission. This five-year tenure places Govender at the forefront of an initiative crucial to safeguarding the rights of all cultural, religious, and linguistic communities in South Africa.
According to Section 31 of the South African Bill of Rights, “persons belonging to a cultural, religious or linguistic community may not be denied the right, with other members of that community to enjoy their culture, practice their religion and use their language; and to form, join and maintain cultural, religious and linguistic associations and other organs of civil society.”
The Commission undertakes its protection and promotion of these rights through proactive and reactive approaches.
Others appointed with Govender include Thoko Nonhle Jeanette Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, George Henry Mahlangu, Dr Tsholofelo Masetshaba Mosala, James Petrus Mapanka, Doris Tsakane Nkwe, Dr Sylvia Mmamohapi Pheto, Professor Muneer Abduroaf, Adv. Sipho Gideon “Rasta” Mantula, Xolisa Donna Makoboka, Professor Mokgale Albert Makgopa and Adv. Aubrey Kgositoi Sedupane.
Govender was nominated based on recommendations from cultural and religious organisations. He is a seasoned social anthropologist with extensive academic and professional experience in Zulu and Hindu cultures.
Govender, who has a passion for social cohesion and nation building, said the appointment was the pinnacle of his career.
He said his post graduate studies were related to cross cultural studies between Indians and Zulus.
"I will now have the opportunity to strengthen that ideology that we are part of South African society. It has always been my mantra that we are all part of one big family," he said.
Govender said the cultural, religious and linguistic rights of the different communities were essential to be preserved and promoted, adding that the commission had a valuable role to play.
"I have been doing it over the years in my different capacities as director of arts of culture and as a social cohesion advocate.
"If anybody's cultural, religious or linguistic rights are being violated the commission's duty is to investigate, mediate and find solutions. I'm not reactionary. I am proactive, therefore during my tenure as commissioner I'm going to be doing advocacy programmes for people to understand their rights. A lot of people did not know the existence of the commission," he said.
He said he wants to have interfaith, inter-cultural and inter-generational dialogues and advocacy programmes.
"People forget we have the Griquas, San people and Khoisan and people in the northern Cape, their rights are not always catered for. I want to make sure that everybody's rights, whether you are an Indian person from KwaZulu-Natal or an indigenous community from the northern Cape, have an opportunity to get recourse if their rights are violated.
"Every year, we have issues regarding some of the Indian cultural practices. I'm going to make sure there's sufficient information given to the powers that be.”
He said to do justice as a commissioner his appeal to the different communities is to come forward with suggestions and recommendations as to what they would like to see.