Government plans to introduce legislation to\u00a0regulate faith-based organisations in South Africa, in an effort to cut down on religious leaders who are making millions of rands through legal loopholes.<\/p>\n
According to a report by the Cape Argus<\/a><\/strong>, the new legislation will be heard in parliament in June 2017\u00a0following an analysis\u00a0of the public complaints and interviews\u00a0by the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission).<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not disputing that there are still some good religious leaders out there, but as a country we are also faced with a challenge of people who run churches like family businesses and no one questions them on how the church\u2019s money is spent,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0Commission chairperson Thoko Mkhwanazi- Xaluva.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also have those who abuse their power and make congregants do all sort of things like drinking petrol and eating snakes. We can\u2019t have things like that happening but they will continue if the industry remains unregulated.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Mkhwanazi- Xaluva, the commission found numerous\u00a0examples where people are expected to pay substantial amounts of money before blessings and prayers. It also found numerous other prima facie cases of commercialisation of religion including blessed water and oils are sold to congregants and leaders who would only offer services if a fixed amount is met.<\/p>\n The announcement arrives a day after hundreds of thousands of people\u00a0flocked to a private farm in Bloemfontein to listen to popular\u00a0evangelist Angus Buchan conduct a prayer meeting.<\/p>\n According to the Argus, numerous well-known figures were in attendance including\u00a0Mmusi Maimaine, wife Natalie, TV personality Michael Mol and ACDP leader Kenneth Moshoe.<\/p>\n Over 1 million people…arrive in Bloem…to pray for #Southafrica<\/a> #ItsTime<\/a>. What a sight.. pic.twitter.com\/tT9xG0vtIa<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jackie (@ByHisGrace4eva) April 22, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n