PROFESSOR David Mosoma, chairman of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission), said there is a need for the Kwasizabantu Christian Mission to embark on a journey of reconciliation.
Mosoma was speaking at CRL offices in Braamfontein, Joburg on Thursday, 13 July. He said this during the release of a report that relates to an investigation into allegations of the violation of the religious rights of the congregants of Kwasizabantu Christian Mission Church.
The investigation was conducted by the commission following complaints and media uproar over allegations of the violation of religious rights at the mission.
Mosoma said regarding issues of crime such as rape, assault, corruption, money laundering, the commission found, among others, that indeed there was a rape incident at the mission as confirmed by the mission and the KZN police. The perpetrator was convicted and is serving his sentence in jail.
He said that the commission further found that the mission does not have programmes that help to educate pupils or students about sexual harassment and molestation, and the absence thereof puts kids' lives at risk of being abused.
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He said: “The virginity inspection was indeed practised in the mission as a cultural practice as the church admitted, but was stopped. The commission promotes and protects virginity inspection as a cultural practice. However, it should be practised in a manner that is not inconsistent with other rights in the Bill of Rights as per section 31(2) of the Constitution in that it should not be imposed on anyone.
“We have found that the teachings, principles rules (doctrines) of the mission are within the scope of freedom of religion as per sections 15 and 31 of the Constitution.”
Mosoma said the complaints they received from victims and witnesses, who spoke about their past painful experiences, was an indication that they still carry the pain of the past despite some allegations not having been proven.
In its recommendations, the commission called on the church to give a public apology to the victims.
“In fact, this is the least of the request which the victims have requested the church to do. The commission has committed itself to facilitating a reconciliation between the victims and the church at a time that would have to be mutually determined,” said Mosoma.
