The Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance in parliament, George Michalakis, is said to have given Karabo Khakhau, a Member of Parliament and spiritual healer, a sort of disciplinary session because she sat on the floor and burped when her ancestors visited her during a party caucus meeting.
 
Ideally, the discussion about African spirituality must take place in light of the groundbreaking resolutions made by the City of Tshwane Council Chambers and UNISA, among other institutions, regarding the provision of employment conditions for employees with a spiritual calling. By doing so, this would be an acknowledgement of the challenges faced by individuals who have a calling in African spirituality. For example, the ancestor may reconnect with such an individual during normal working hours, 08:00 to 17:00. 

The situation involving Khakhau and Michalakis illustrates the need to change mindsets and acknowledge Africa’s spirituality as a reality, moving away from the Western conception of spirituality, which includes Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, or Islamic religions, without explicitly stating that we are in an African context. Therefore, spirituality should not be equated solely with religious practices such as Christianity, which involves worshipping once a week on Sunday, or Islam, which requires praying five times a day at specific times. 

Such an incident raises a question about whether the leaders of political parties, even the most liberal ones like the DA, truly understand the realities of Africa and its people, as well as their spiritual beliefs. The participation of African people in these political parties is unconditioned. In other words, they assimilate into the European Christian capitalist culture that has created these political parties. 

The reaction of the DA to what allegedly happened with Khakhau during a caucus meeting, where others alleged that she was even reprimanded and others went behind her back talking about the issue instead of going to her and asking her for an understanding, is that she was best located to clarify the African spiritual calling episode that she experienced.

However, people are now beginning to perceive the national parliamentary setting as unwelcoming. Equally, it does not clear space for free religious practices where, if you have an African spirituality calling, you may sit flat on the floor. This behaviour is considered unpleasant and unacceptable because it may violate parliamentary decorum. 

As African people, we accept that individuals can sit flat on the floor, including on the ground during circular meetings in the lekgotla to discuss community related issues, as long as nobody is standing; however, the values that permeate Parliament and some meetings dictate that people should sit opposite each other around a square table. 

What Khakhau is alleged to have been subjected to is just a reflection of the dominant culture in the DA and other political parties generally, where you have (a) gatekeepers of culture and conduct, (b) policemen of behaviour and etiquette, and (c) saints of what is good and bad. What is even more shocking is that Michalakis has had to reprimand another member of the DA caucus, Khakhau, regarding her seating pattern, despite being unaware of her spirituality, appropriate behaviour, or what he considers acceptable conduct. 

Therefore, what the DA is doing is exposing (a) the continuous dominance of male culture, (b) the absence of recognition of other cultures and religious practices, and (c) looking at African spirituality with suspicion even when the Constitution, which is a supreme law in the country, continues to guarantee all of us the freedom of religion, freedom of expression and equality before the law. 

In this context, questioning someone who is experiencing an African spiritual episode may constitute a constitutional violation or infringe on that person’s rights, as it can be perceived as questioning behaviour and conduct that are deemed unacceptable.

Konanani Raligilia is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Jurisprudence at Unisa. Kodisang Bokaba is a Lecturer in the Department of Jurisprudence at Unisa. Ntsuxeko Shibambu is a Lecturer in the Department of Law, Safety, and Security Management at TUT. All the authors write in their personal capacity.