The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities welcomes the report of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) released on 23 February 2026.
The CRL Rights Commission reiterates that the SIU report reinforces its call for accountability in the religious sector. The Commission has maintained that these problems could have been avoided through a self-regulation mechanism that involves the registration of pastors, vetting as required by the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, and adherence to a code of conduct.
The Commission maintains that, as with professions such as doctors (HPCSA), lawyers (LPC), nurses (SANC), social workers (SACSSP), and traditional healers (THPCSA), etc., which are overseen by regulatory councils, the religious sector also requires a selfregulatory council to ensure accountability and ethical conduct.
In that regard, if a Christian council was in place, the Department of Home Affairs would have had a body from which to source guidance and advice. Consequently, it would not have been approving illegal foreign nationals who falsely claimed to be bringing scarce skills into the country.
For any further enquiries, contact
Mpiyakhe Mkholo – 082 527 3859 or Mpiyakhem@crlcommission.org.za
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