Christians rally against CRL's Section 22 Committee, march to Union Buildings

HUNDREDS of Christians from diverse churches united in a march to the Union Buildings yesterday, voicing their opposition to the Council for Religious and Faith-Based Organisations' (CRL) establishment of the Section 22 Committee.

- RAPULA MOATSHE

The protesters claimed that the committee infringed on their religious freedom, and they also called for the immediate dismissal of CRL chairperson Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva.

They accused Mkhwanazi-Xaluva of enabling government interference in church operations through the CRL and failing to protect the autonomy of the churches.

Pastor Mpfariseni Mukhuba of Unity Fellowship Church, an organiser, addressed the crowd, saying, "We are the church defenders, and we will not let Christianity die in South Africa. We will protect our heritage and pass it on to our children."

She emphasised that the church is under attack and that they will take a stand to defend it.

She said that the time for silence is over, adding that "if we keep silent now, we will perish and that is why today we are marching".

Mukhuba accused Mkhwanazi-Xaluva of attempting to destroy the church through the Section 22 Committee, a peer-review mechanism she believes undermines church autonomy.