Thousands of Christians from across KwaZulu‑Natal and beyond are marching through the streets of Durban today in a major demonstration for religious freedom and against proposed regulatory measures affecting churches.
Organised by the South African Church Defenders (SACD), the march began this morning from King Dinuzulu Park and is making its way toward City Hall.
Participants, representing a range of denominations, say they are exercising their constitutional right to worship freely and are opposed to moves they see as state overreach into church affairs.
The protest comes amid a heated national debate over the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) and its establishment of a Section 22 Committee that some church leaders claim could lead to government regulation of religious organisations potentially affecting how churches operate internally.
Critics argue the committee undermines religious autonomy guaranteed under the Constitution’s protections for freedom of religion.
Organisers insist the march is peaceful and lawful, with a memorandum to be handed over to the eThekwini Mayor’s office calling for clarity on regulatory proposals and respect for constitutional rights. They also reaffirm that existing laws should handle criminal conduct in religious spaces without creating new bureaucratic oversight.
Earlier engagements between religious leaders and Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs highlighted the importance of protecting both religious freedom and congregants from abuse but left some issues unresolved, fuelling today’s mobilisation.
City traffic has been affected in central Durban as marchers fill the streets with banners and chants defending freedom of worship. Police are on the scene to ensure public safety, and organisers have urged participants to remain peaceful throughout the event.