The South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) has raised concerns over new regulatory proposals by the CRL Rights Commission
Image: CRL
The South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) has raised concerns over new regulatory proposals by the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, describing them as unnecessary and potentially intrusive in religious affairs.
The CRL Rights Commission has been engaging religious organisations across the country on the formation of Section 22 Committees, which it says are intended to address abuses, establish peer-review councils, and encourage self-regulation within the religious sector.
According to the CRL Rights Commission, the Section 22 Committees are being formed to address abuses, establish peer-review councils, and promote self-regulation within the South African religious sector.
However, SAMNET chairperson Faisal Suliman said the organisation strongly opposes the initiative.
He said SAMNET, a non-profit organisation dedicated to advocacy, media engagement, education, and community development, like other faith groups, supports efforts to curb harmful practices within religious institutions.
"What we do strongly believe is that the present way of going about it (Section 22) is totally flawed. We think it's a dangerous precedent to give control and oversight, effectively to politicians dressed up in a different form.
"History is littered with examples of what happens once you give politicians control of something. There are more than enough laws to tackle abuse, to stop financial fraud and criminality. It's a matter of implementation," said Suliman.
Suliman suggested that more effective results could be achieved through improved law enforcement, proposing that police and the Department of Justice develop specialised training and task teams to deal with religious abuse.
He also raised concerns about what he described as growing Islamophobia and attacks on Muslim communities.
"SAMNET has been disappointed that the CRL has not tackled that at all. It is like they don't recognise the problem of Islamophobia and attacks on Muslims and we have observed an increase. We believe the CRL's priorities are a bit biased. We agree with eradicating abuse of religious practice but we also feel there's another sinister motive here.
"Once overtures are made to the Muslim community, we will officially write to them with our views. Political parties need to come out and clearly state what their position is on the matter," said Suliman.
Meanwhile last Saturday, the CRL Rights Commission, led by its chairperson, Thoko Xaluva Mkhwanazi, together with four Commissioners, hosted a consultative engagement with the Hindu community in Chatsworth.
According to a statement issued by the CRL Rights Commission, delegates were afforded the opportunity to raise challenges affecting their communities.
Among the key issues highlighted were the need to prioritise the teaching of Indian languages in educational institutions and limited funding for the promotion of Indian culture.
"Several delegates also expressed the view that, as a minority community, the Indian community has at times experienced marginalisation and called for greater recognition and support.
"A key outcome of the engagement was the proposed establishment of a Section 22 Committee for the Hindu community, which was endorsed by the majority of delegates," the statement said.
In her address, Xaluva Mkhwanazi emphasised that this forms part of a democratic and participatory process, grounded in the Constitution of South Africa.
She further highlighted that similar Section 22 Committees have already been established for the Christian sector and the African Traditional Religion, respectively, with plans underway to extend this process to other religious communities.
“This path is not a procedure of imposition, but one of consultation. No community is being forced to participate. However, meaningful participation can only yield positive outcomes for the betterment of the diverse religious sector,” she said.
The commission further clarified that neither it nor the proposed Committees has any mandate to regulate or prescribe religious practices. The role of the CRL Rights Commission is not to tell people how to worship, but to protect the space in which all can worship freely, with dignity and mutual respect.