CRL Rights Commission calls for regulation of religious sector

JOHANNESBURG – The CRL Rights Commission said a professional body is needed to regulate the religious sector.

This after a SIU report laid bare the corruption rot at Home Affairs and how officials allegedly abetted self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso to obtain fraudulent permits.

Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, CRL Rights Commission Chair said corrupt officials at Home Affairs have become the professional body.

“They themselves can control the system and indicate if there is a shortage of religious leaders in a particular sector. If the body is saying it’s not a scarce skill, Home Affairs officials cannot bring people in the country to be religious leaders.”

Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said without a professional body, corruption was bound to continue in the religious sector.

“Our proposal has always been a peer review mechanism where they themselves will control what happens in the religious sector. This proves us right once more.”

READ | 'Arrest them': Demands for harsh punishment mount over Home Affairs corruption

She said an urgent vetting and registration of all religious leaders in the country was needed.

“A paedophile can open a church tomorrow. People mustn’t just come into the country and decide to be a religious leader. The Children’s Act is very clear, people who have access to children must be vetted. How are we supposed to do that when we don’t know who you are and where you come from,” Mkhwanazi-Xaluva added.

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