Grantleigh Curro’s controversial art exhibition on the relationship between money and religion has been taken down in the wake of an outcry that it was “demonical”, the man who complained about it says.

The school did not respond to queries for confirmation of this, but Pastor Andrew Anderson said he was happy after attending a meeting at the school: “I am so glad.” 

“I think it’s from all the pressure, and all the unity of the Christian people sticking together, for these things to come down.”

On Tuesday, Anderson called for a protest and for prospective parents to refrain from sending their children to the Christianity-based school.

“My God is no clown,” said a choked up Anderson as he filmed the work at the school near Richards Bay.

“It felt like we were crucifying Jesus all over again,” said the Ballito Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) pastor.

He was particularly upset by the pupils’ interpretation of religious paintings and art, such Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper”, in which Jesus was portrayed as a clown and dollar signs were on a lintel behind him.

Torn pieces of excerpts of one of the Bible’s books, Chronicles, were pasted on a sculpture.

This almost had him in tears.

READ | ‘My God is no clown’ – Pastor fumes over ‘demonic’ art project at Curro school 

Anderson praised the school for the quick response to the controversy, which had elicited angry comments from upset Christians.

Other comments were mixed with praise for the high artistic standard of the work, but objections to the message.

Others complimented the pupil and the school for the critical thinking involved in the work, and its role in discussing money and organised religion.

Anderson said there were two things he was aiming for: That the school admits it pushed the boundary and crossed its ethos of “to God be the Glory”; and that it makes a statement that this will never happen again.

“They realised they made a mistake. They realised this was not right,” he said.

School apologises

In a statement, the school apologised for offending anybody. 

“Curro extends an unreserved apology to all those community members who have been affected and offended by the artwork in question. We urge the community to support Curro, Grantleigh and its leadership in their sincere and determined efforts to ensure that we continue to offer the best quality education to every learner under our care.”

It said that following an internal investigation, Curro determined that the duty of care and guidance offered to the learner did not always adequately address the underlying issues and potential implications of producing a visual art piece, the content of which was controversial and likely to stir emotive responses.

“It is also important that art is subjective and open to interpretation; art encourages people to voice an opinion, either for or against the work in question,” it stated. 

It noted that the Independent Examination Board (IEB) confirmed that an independent examiner already examined the exhibition and found it to comply, in every respect, with the examination brief and IEB academic standards. It was not reported as problematic to the IEB.

The school body acknowledged that the content of the artwork was controversial and likely to stir emotive responses.

“It is also important that art is subjective and open to interpretation; art encourages people to voice an opinion either for or against the work in question,” the statement read.

The school “reaffirmed” its commitment to the Constitutional right of every individual with respect to their religious belief, race or ethnicity, gender orientation.

It would actively include this as part of their ongoing good practice as an institution of learning and to rigorously avoid any action that constitutes incitement to cause harm.

Money, blind faith

The matric artist has also seemingly responded to the outcry, Parent24 reported, with a statement explaining the context of the work, and asking that “before anyone speak, they perhaps think”, adding that “I cannot damage that which has already been shattered.”

News24 is working on verifying the contents of the statement through the school.

The Zululand Observer reported that the pupil explained the artwork “demonstrates organised religion’s preoccupation with making money and its exploitation of those with blind faith”.

It reported that he said one of the pieces was symbolic of the lack of choice children have when they are born into and raised in a particular faith.

Anderson was told that it had been displayed due to a “lack of knowledge” about the content, and that everybody was too afraid to speak out before he made his video plea.

There was an agreement that in the future, religious content in art would still be allowed, but it had to be positive and in line with the school’s ethos of “to God be the glory”.

Anderson felt that “that barrier cannot be crossed”, and wanted religion to be used in a positive way.

He said freedom of expression was important, but it needed to be framed within the context of the school’s ethos.

He said the art teacher was new at the school, which may have contributed to a “lack of knowledge” about “Satanism” and Satanic imagery.

News24 will update the story if the school issues further information later on Wednesday.

Despite a constrained and vulnerable power system, no loadshedding is expected on Monday and the probability of further power cuts remains low for the rest of the week, says Eskom.

Eskom said in a statement that the system’s improvement was largely as a result of several units being returned to service from planned and unplanned maintenance, and achieving a healthy water level at its pumped storage schemes to prepare for the week ahead.

“Eskom continues to replenish diesel reserves for the open cycle gas turbines which enable us to avoid and/or minimise loadshedding. Repairs are progressing well on the conveyor belt at Medupi power station, which should reach full capacity by the end of the week.

“We remind customers that despite this progress, the power system is constrained and while every effort is made to avoid loadshedding, it could be implemented at short notice should there be a significant shift in plant performance and increased unplanned technical breakdowns.

 “Customers are encouraged to continue to use electricity sparingly. Please switch off geysers as well as all non-essential lighting and electricity appliances to assist in reducing demand.  As we are experiencing a heat wave in some parts of the country, we ask that you use your air conditioners efficiently at 23ºC.”

On Sunday morning, Eskom cautioned that “the power system is constrained and while we are making every effort to avoid loadshedding, it could be implemented at short notice should there be a significant shift in plant performance and increased unplanned technical breakdowns”.

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It explained that additional generating units are expected to return to service on Sunday and repairs are progressing well on the conveyor belt at Medupi power station. In addition, Eskom has had an opportunity to replenish diesel reserves for the open cycle gas turbines and to increase water levels at its pumped storage schemes in preparation for the week ahead.

These reserves enable Eskom to avoid or minimise the extent of loadshedding.

Eskom said at the time that it would be in a better position to provide a prognosis for Monday and the coming week, after reviewing the performance of the electricity system on Sunday evening.

“We will continue to keep South Africans informed about the status of the electricity system and our recovery efforts,” Eskom said.

Earlier in the week the utility blamed the current wave of power cuts, which began on Wednesday, on boiler leaks and the breakdown of a conveyor belt transporting coal to Medupi power station. Eskom also said delays in returning units that were on planned maintenance to service contributed to supply constraints, as did diesel shortages.

Siphesihle Lambatha is less than three months old but has already proven herself to be a little fighter.

After spending 83 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Melomed Hospital in Gatesville, Athlone, the infant who weighed only 410g at birth this week finally got to go home.

The tiny patient’s paediatrician, Dr Shukri Raban, said Siphesihle was one of the 10 smallest babies born in South Africa.

“410g, put into context, is not much bigger than a tub of margarine,” he said. “Lengthwise, she was not much taller than a half a ruler – less than 15cm.”

On the day she was discharged, her proud mother Yandisa Ngele Lambatha took home a 1.84kg baby girl.

Yandisa had gone into labour at 26 weeks – about six months into her pregnancy – and was at the hospital every day since Siphesihle’s birth on 26 July.

“I am happy to be going home with her. The first time I saw her from the theatre, I thought this one was not going to be alive,” she recalled in a recorded interview with the hospital.

Her older daughter was also tiny at birth, weighing only 500g. Before her daughters’ births, she had had three miscarriages.

“I didn’t think that [Siphesihle] would make it. But now I am happy – she is here.”

Dad Ntandazo Lambatha said he had prayed for his beautiful daughter every day, thanking the doctors, staff and family for their support.

Raban praised the mom of two, saying Siphesihle’s discharge is “more a celebration of [Yandisa’s] feat – not just once, but twice”.

“To do this twice over is an arduous task and she fulfilled it with absolute aplomb,” he said.

Raban was hopeful that Siphesihle would develop well, just like her big sister Sindie.

“We are very chuffed, not so much at the role that we played, but the honour we had in seeing how she developed, and how she has progressed to the point where she is now.”

Upon being discharged on Thursday, Siphesihle received a “certificate of bravery” from the hospital, handed to her at a mini-graduation ceremony with her parents.

– Compiled by Tammy Petersen

The Gauteng education department has instituted an inquiry following claims that black employees at an Ekurhuleni school were forced to eat in a converted toilet. 

Department spokesperson Steve Mabona told News24 that the inquiry could lead to disciplinary action against implicated officials. 

The Star reported that about nine employees at Brackenhurst Primary school in Alberton shared a prefabricated toilet and used it as an eating room and change room.

The publication spoke to an official at the school who said five women shared the room with four men.

The official told the publication that the “inhumane” treatment was because they were “black”, while their white colleague had access to the administrative block. 

It is alleged that the employees have been using the quarters for several years and that it was against the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 85 of 1993. 

Section 8 of the act states that the employer is obliged to provide and maintain a workplace that is safe and without risk to the health of their employees. 

“We have since identified and allocated a suitable room to be utilised by the employees,” Mabona said.

Mabona said the department implored schools to familiarise themselves with OHS policies and to adhere to fair labour practices at all times.