The Culture, Religious and Linguistic Rights Commission (CRL) has vowed to address human rights violations in South Africa, focusing on grave recycling, virginity testing, and community healing after the ‘Phoenix massacre’ in 2021.

In a passionate address, CRL chairperson, Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, outlined the commission’s ambitious mission to address a range of urgent issues that have plagued communities for too long.

Last year, the commission report found that racism was prevalent in Phoenix, negatively impacting the lives of African people economically and in terms of public service.

“The commission will engage with various stakeholders on the matter of the Phoenix massacre. This will be done in respect of those matters that relate to our mandate, but will also conduct public education and advocacy programmes on the issues of culture and religion, thereby helping to promote co-existence among the diverse communities,” said Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva.

The unrest was triggered by the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma, who now leads the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). More than 350 died and others were believed to be still missing.

Of these, 36 were murdered in Phoenix, and hailed from the neighbouring townships of Amaoti, Bhambayi and Inanda.

The commission has indicated that it will facilitate a cleansing ceremony with cultural and religious groups to fast-track healing and reconciliation between the affected communities.

Additionally, the commission has adopted a tough stance against errant municipalities and other spheres of government on some of the biggest violations of human rights against ordinary South Africans.

Among these pressing matters, the CRL will closely scrutinise gravesite recycling, a practice that compromises the dignity of deceased individuals and their families.

Furthermore, the commission plans to address the concerning practices of virginity testing and initiation abuses, aiming to uphold the dignity of individuals subjected to these often controversial practices.

This bold move comes hot on the heels of a recent appointment by President Cyril Ramaphosa of a new team of commissioners for the period 2025-2030, who were recently sworn in by Judge Thifhelimbilu Mudau of the Gauteng Division of the High Court.

“The commission is concerned about the deaths of initiates and for that reason, it appeals to everyone involved that we should never arrive at a point where we accept, as normal, the deaths of young men and women as we know that these young people go through this practice in their quest to celebrate their culture, yet they end up dying and in the process, some among their deaths as just numbers,” Mkhwanazi-Xaluva stated.

On the practice of recycling graves by some municipalities, Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said the practice of burying multiple individuals in a single grave violates the dignity of families who have to deal with the burden of attracting foreign spirits into their homes.

“The commission will engage with the municipalities on the matter related to recycling of graves which continues to be a challenge to the religion in line with the commission’s programme of evaluating and monitoring municipal by-laws that impact the religious and linguistic communities,” she stated.

On the Kwathanda Bantu and the commercialisation of religion, the commission plans to facilitate an engagement with the victims of the church as well as the church leadership.

“The commission will be working with various stakeholders in the sector to establish and approve a peer review council intended to address the conduct of some religious leaders who continue to abuse their followers,” she stated.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za