Senior Bhisho government officials have petitioned President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene in what they say is a battle to have churches regulated.
On Wednesday, three Eastern Cape MECs – who led a march to the Port Elizabeth High Court – also demanded “the immediate closure of all churches that exploit vulnerable congregants”.
The peaceful protest comes as rape accused pastor Timothy Omotoso’s lawyer, Peter Daubermann, is expected to bring an application for leave to appeal against judge Mandela Makaula’s decision not to recuse himself on Thursday.
Transport, safety and liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana, health MEC Helen Sauls-August and social development head Dr Pumza Dyantyi were joined in the march by religious leaders and members of the ANC Women’s League as well as the SAPS’s Women’s Forum in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The colourful group of about 200 participated in the 2km walk in 30°C heat from the ANC regional offices in Govan Mbeki Avenue to the court.
Supporters brandished placards which read, “Hands off our girls”, “Stop abusing our women and children” and “Justice must prevail”.
“This [march] is not just about the Omotoso case – and I want to emphasise that,” Sauls-August said.
“It’s also to say to those young ladies who are still going to testify [that] ‘we’ve got your back, don’t back down now’.
“We are not saying they [the defence] are wrong, we are just saying, ‘can you become sensitive to the issues we are raising?’ We know the defence must interrogate [witnesses].
“It is their right to do so and anyone charged with a crime is going to be [found] innocent or guilty after due processes have concluded – we are not stopping that, we are just saying become more sensitive.”
Dyantyi said they wanted churches to be regulated.
“We have a petition which outlines some of the things that we think the government should do.
“We know that churches must be registered, but there is no monitoring of churches.
“We are pleading for that.”
The petition, addressed to Ramaphosa, demands:
● Speedy establishment of a regulatory/monitoring policy framework, including the regulatory/monitoring authority;
● The immediate closure of all churches that exploit vulnerable congregants;
● That church leaders undergo scrutiny and disciplinary measures be put in place for leaders, separately from the congregation;
● The fight against gender-based violence be extended to churches and be headed by all leaders in society;
● The deportation of any expatriate church leader whose church has been shut down due to exploitative practices; and
● The establishment of a task team to oversee a national programme to educate society to be vigilant against church-based exploitation.
The Rev Mpumelelo Qwabaza, a former leader of the Eastern Cape Council of Churches and leader of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of SA, said it supported the call to regulate churches.
“The recent recommendations by the Commission for Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CLR) say there is no proper administration in the churches.
“So we think the issue of regulation should involve issues around how many churches we have and how to properly start a church in SA.”
Justice ministry spokesperson Nathi Mncube confirmed receipt of the petition.
He said he would forward it to the presidency.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khuselo Diko, did not respond to requests for comment.