Parliament, Tuesday, 26 May 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs today reaffirmed that freedom of religion and accountability need not be mutually exclusive.
The committee continued its engagement with leaders of faith-based organisations and churches. The engagement followed last week's meeting with the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Commission), where the committee reaffirmed its responsibility to listen to all affected parties and determine whether there is genuine disagreement, misunderstanding or mistrust that can be resolved.
During previous engagements, several stakeholders from the religious community have raised concerns about the constitutionality and inclusivity of the processes the Commission followed in establishing a Section 22 Committee to explore self-regulation in the sector. Some religious stakeholders, however, perceive this as overreach into religious affairs.
In his introductory remarks today, the Chairperson of the committee, Dr Zweli Mkhize, noted that Parliament has a responsibility to provide a platform for raising concerns and deliberating. “Parliament remains the appropriate and constitutionally mandated platform for all sectors of society to raise concerns, seek clarity and contribute to policy and legislative processes,” he said.
However, he emphasised that the purpose of the committee’s consultations was not to replace the CRL Commission’s mandate or the Commission’s processes already underway. He said the intention is also not to create a parallel process, but rather to address misunderstanding, mistrust and public acrimony that resulted from the Section 22 process.
The committee noted several areas of agreement among the discussants. These include a recognition of the constitutionally protected freedom of religion and a shared rejection of any abuse and exploitation of congregants or vulnerable persons in spiritual spaces.
The Chairperson, however, noted that the committee could not ignore cases where congregants have been subjected to spiritual, physical, financial or other forms of exploitation. Several survivors shared personal accounts of violations during the meeting. Acknowledging this, the Chairperson said: “There have been instances where the basic human rights of congregants have been breached, and that is something we condemn.”
The committee further noted that the matter is about more than institutional processes or disagreement between religious bodies and the CRL Commission but about whether people can worship freely while also being protected from abuse and the misuse of religious authority. “It is also about ensuring that constitutional rights are not used to shield wrongdoing, and that accountability is not misunderstood as state control of religion,” said Dr Mkhize.
The committee noted broad agreement among the discussants on the need for an ethical code of conduct that must be controlled, managed and developed by religious leaders, religious bodies and communities themselves. “We need to return to a process that allows the development of the ethical code of conduct to be an organic, grassroots-based and bottom-up process,” said the Chairperson.
The committee noted that the engagement helped identify areas of agreement and areas requiring further work, and that a constructive way forward remains possible. The Chairperson said the next step is to bring together those who support and those who oppose the Section 22 process and see whether they can work together without acrimony.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS, DR ZWELI MKHIZE.
For media inquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the Media Officer:
Name: Alicestine October
Cell: 083 665 4345
E-mail: aoctober@parliament.gov.za
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