The Chairperson of the Cultural, Religious and Linguistic (CRL) Rights Commission in South Africa (SA), Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, has urged church leaders to avoid promoting practices that could endanger people’s lives.
The Commission was established to protect and promote cultural, religious and linguistic community rights in SA. Its call follows reports that members of the Ikhaya Labafundi Faith Mission in KwaMaphumulo, north of Durban in Kwa Zulu Natal peovince, are discouraged from taking chronic medication, seeking medical care, or pursuing formal education, as these are seen as conflicting with their beliefs.
Congregants from different parts of the country have reportedly moved onto the property permanently, leaving behind their families and careers. Mkhwanazi-Xaluva says the situation underscores the urgent need for legislation to regulate faith-based organisations.
“The challenge is that we have consistently proposed that the religious sector be regulated like other sectors. Doctors have a health professional council, as do social workers and others. If there were such a council, it would have dealt with the religious leader. The problem is not the congregants, but the leader. This leader is unethical and should not encourage people to stop taking their medication.”
–ChannelAfrica–
