Hundreds of people gathered in Durban on Thursday for the march organised by the SA Church Defenders group.
Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers
Hundreds of religious leaders and congregants, led by the South African Church Defenders (SACD), brought parts of the Durban CBD to a standstill today.
The marchers were protesting against the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (known as the CRL Rights Commission) and its controversial Section 22 Committee, which they claim aims to tighten the “screws” on religious freedom through state-led regulation.
Starting at King Dinuzulu Park and ending at City Hall, the marchers voiced their opposition to the committee's proposed framework which they believe will lead to the compulsory licensing of pastors and the vetting of new churches.
Addressing the crowd, the chairperson of the SA Church Defenders Pastor Makhuba stated that the mobilisation was a sign of a “rising” and “powerful” church that would no longer remain silent. Makhuba argued that the CRL Rights Commission has become the biggest threat to the “great commission of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The ACDP is among the organisations that supported the march which raised its opposition to the actions of the CRL Rights Commission.
Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers
The SACD expressed fears that South Africa could mirror the situations in Rwanda and Angola, where thousands of churches have reportedly been closed or subjected to strict registration requirements for registration.
They argued that the CRL Rights Commission chairperson, Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, is pushing for laws that would allow the state to determine who is "fit to be a pastor."
The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) has also thrown its weight behind the movement. Pastor Wayne Thring, Deputy President of the ACDP, argued that the CRL's current trajectory is "diametrically opposed" to the Bill of Rights.
Thring emphasised that the commission is mandated for the protection and promotion of rights, not for their regulation. He warned that if the state dictates qualifications for the ministry, it could lead to a “state-sponsored religion” similar to models seen in China.
The marchers said they were opposed to government control of religion.
Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers
During the handover of a memorandum to a representative of the Premier's office, speakers highlighted that the fight against these proposals is not new. The memorandum noted that Parliament had already considered and rejected similar proposals between 2017 and 2020. The marchers maintain that the CRL’s attempt to revive these frameworks undermines constitutional democracy and disregards previous parliamentary authority.
The march in Durban follows a string of high-profile demonstrations across the country. The SACD noted that they previously led a march to the Union Buildings on October 8, 2025, to petition the President, followed by a march to Parliament in Cape Town on November 13, 2025.
Religious leaders contend that churches have successfully practiced self-regulation for generations and that any move toward a state-mandated legal framework is both unconstitutional and unlawful.
They specifically challenged the push for church venues to meet specific standards, noting that many congregations are forced to operate in schools due to a lack of available land.
The CRL Commission has previously defended its Section 22 Committee as a necessary tool to address abuses and the commercialisation of religion. The commission asserts that its goal is to promote ethical self-governance and protect vulnerable congregants from harmful practices, rather than interfering with doctrinal independence.
However, the SACD has already approached the High Court to challenge the lawfulness of the Section 22 Committee, calling for its immediate disbandment.
For more stories from The Mercury, click the link THE MERCURY