Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, the chairperson of the Commission for the Religious and Linguistic Rights (CRL Commission), has defended the work of the Section 22 Committee, amidst claims that her regulatory efforts in the church sector are unconstitutional.

The ongoing stand-off has triggered deep-seated emotions within the religious community, particularly after the resignation of Reverend Musa Xulu, who has voiced allegations of harassment and abuse of power against Mkhwanazi-Xaluva.

However, on Wednesday, during a press briefing held at the CRL Commission headquarters in Braamfontein, Mkhwanazi-Xaluva defended the committee and its intended mandate, saying the committee is meant to enforce ethical conduct of the religious and linguistic communities and not specifically the church.

“We were established through Chapter 9 of the Constitution and, of course, the CRL Rights Act. Our mandate is very clear; we are supposed to promote and protect the rights of cultural, religious, and linguistic communities. We were established to deal with communities and not necessarily, for instance, churches. Other people are there to defend churches; we are there to defend the religious communities,” said Mkhwanazi-Xaluva.

Her remarks come in the wake of a dramatic resignation from the committee by former member Reverend Xulu, who has levelled serious allegations against her leadership.

Reverend Xulu’s resignation triggered significant discussions within the religious and civic communities, as he accused Dr Mkhwanazi-Xaluva of sidelining him and other members of the committee. He further articulated deep concerns regarding the shift in focus of the committee, claiming that it veered away from its original purpose and began to impose unwarranted state control over church affairs.

“The environment has become untenable for me as chairperson. Despite having the authority to convene and preside over meetings, I found myself restricted and undermined,” Reverend Xulu stated during a press briefing hosted by the Church Defenders of South Africa shortly before his resignation.

In her response, Dr Mkhwanazi-Xaluva stated that the committee remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering self-regulation within the church community while upholding the principles and standards necessary for effective governance. The committee’s ongoing work aims to provide an inclusive dialogue among all church stakeholders, emphasising collaboration over confrontation.

“We remain dedicated to our mandate and will continue to engage with all participants in a respectful manner. The work we are doing is crucial for the long-term health of our church organisations,” she asserted, reiterating that all committee activities are conducted with transparency and integrity.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

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