Criminal allegations involving religious leaders are facing increased scrutiny, as three Chapter 9 institutions unite to push for stricter accountability within the religious sector. The move comes in response to growing concerns over the continued operation of ministers accused of serious crimes, including rape and sexual assault.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Chairperson of the Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights Commission (CRL), Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, did not mince her words:
"The religious sector is not normal; this is the most vicious sector I've ever seen. They are much more vicious than the normal criminal."
The CRL Rights Commission, alongside the South African Human Rights Commission and the Commission for Gender Equality, announced a joint inquiry into the legal processes surrounding the recent acquittal of Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso. The 66-year-old, along with two co-accused, was cleared last month of a string of serious charges, including rape and human trafficking.
Mkhwanazi-Xaluva confirmed that the commissions are preparing to unveil a series of measures to combat crime in religious institutions, many of which currently fall outside formal regulatory frameworks.
“We are monitoring a few other cases involving religious leaders with serious allegations against them who continue to preach while out on bail. There is currently no mechanism in place to suspend them, which is deeply problematic,” she said.
The commissions say the aim of the inquiry is not only to review judicial outcomes but also to address the broader systemic gaps that allow religious figures facing grave accusations to retain influence over their congregations.
As public concern mounts, the joint effort signals a significant step toward bringing greater accountability and regulation to a sector long shrouded in impunity.