CRL Rights Commission Breaks Silence After Musa Xulu Resignation

MDNtv — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:36:46 +0000

The CRL Rights Commission briefs the media in Braamfontein on the status and key developments of the Section 22 Ad Hoc Committee for the Christian Sector.

This briefing follows the resignation of Professor Rev Musa Xulu, raising serious public interest around the future of the committee, its findings, and the Commission’s constitutional mandate.

The Commission outlines significant matters arising from the committee’s work, ongoing programmes, and the way forward after recent leadership changes. Transparency, accountability, and governance within the Christian religious sector remain central to this update.

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CRL Church Proposal Explained: What the Law Already Covers and What It Doesn’t

MDN tv — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 06:17:15 +0000

As the CRL Rights Commission, through its Section 22 Ad Hoc Committee for the Christian Sector, launches a national consultation on a proposed self-regulatory framework for churches, many South Africans are asking a simple but critical question: do we really need new rules for churches, or do existing laws already cover abuse and exploitation?

The debate has been framed as one of accountability. But a closer look at South Africa’s legal landscape shows that the issue may not be a lack of laws, but how those laws are enforced.

This explainer breaks down what the law already regulates, what it deliberately does not regulate, and where the CRL proposal changes the relationship between church and state.

What the Law Already Covers

South African law already applies fully to churches, pastors, and religious organisations. There is no legal exemption for religious spaces.

Criminal conduct

When harm occurs in a church, it is prosecuted under ordinary criminal law. This includes:

• Assault and grievous bodily harm

• Sexual offences, including rape and exploitation

• Child abuse and neglect

• Intimidation and coercion

Courts have repeatedly ruled that religious belief or consent does not make harmful conduct lawful. The conviction of the so-called Doom pastor is one example where existing law was applied decisively.

Financial and organisational misconduct

Churches are also subject to:

• Fraud and theft legislation

• Tax compliance and SARS oversight

• Non-profit governance requirements where applicable

Religious status does not shield any institution from financial accountability.

Child protection

The Children’s Act and related legislation impose strict duties to protect minors and to report abuse. These obligations apply regardless of whether abuse occurs in a home, school, or church.

In practical terms, criminal law, civil law, and regulatory law already address abuse, exploitation, and misconduct in churches.

What the Law Does Not Cover

While the law addresses crimes, it intentionally does not regulate belief, doctrine, worship practices, or internal church governance.

This is not a gap. It is a constitutional safeguard.

The Constitution protects:

• Freedom of religion and belief

• The right of religious communities to organise and govern themselves

• Doctrinal diversity and theological autonomy

The state is not empowered to decide:

• Who qualifies as a legitimate pastor

• Which doctrines are acceptable

• How churches should structure leadership

• Which churches are spiritually or theologically in “good standing”

This boundary exists to prevent state interference in conscience and belief.

What the CRL Proposal Seeks to Add

The draft framework proposed by the Section 22 Ad Hoc Committee introduces elements that go beyond existing law, including:

• A sector-wide self-regulatory council

• Certification or accreditation mechanisms

• Public seals of good standing

• Standardised ethical and governance benchmarks

Although described as voluntary, such mechanisms can have real consequences. Once associated with a Chapter 9 institution, they can influence public legitimacy, donor confidence, and engagement with the state.

This is where concern begins.

Why the Distinction Matters

If abuse is already criminal, accountability belongs to:

• The police

• Prosecutors

• The courts

Introducing religious oversight structures risks reframing criminal conduct as a governance issue rather than a legal one. It also risks shifting responsibility away from the state’s duty to enforce the law.

More importantly, it raises a constitutional question: at what point does protecting rights become regulating religion?

Enforcement Versus Control

South Africa’s challenge has not been the absence of laws. It has been:

• Weak investigations

• Delayed prosecutions

• Fear of confronting powerful figures

• Uneven enforcement

None of these failures are resolved by regulating churches.

They are resolved by enforcing the law consistently and without fear or favour.

The Constitutional Line That Must Not Be Crossed

Religious freedom in South Africa was deliberately protected to prevent state involvement in belief and worship.

Churches must be accountable under the law.

Criminal conduct must be punished.

Victims must be protected.

But belief, worship, and spiritual governance must remain outside the reach of state-linked regulatory systems.

The Question South Africans Must Answer

The debate is no longer about whether abuse should be addressed. It already is.

The real question is whether the CRL Rights Commission is moving from its constitutional role of protecting religious rights into shaping how religious communities govern themselves.

That distinction will define the future relationship between church and state in South Africa.

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Section 22 Ad Hoc Committee – MDNtv

CRL Rights Commission Breaks Silence After Musa Xulu Resignation

CRL Church Proposal Explained: What the Law Already Covers and What It Doesn’t

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content