As the call to regulate churches continues, House of Worship Ministries founder Reverend Johannes Mazibuko has claimed that there is financial rape in the church.
He made this statement during a stakeholder engagement for religious policy between christian leaders and the ministry of home affairs yesterday.
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Mazibuko claimed that he once visited a church where envelopes were handed out to congregants seeking blessings such as marriage or cars, despite many of them living below the poverty line. He observed that such a practice exploited vulnerable people and called for proper authority and oversight to ensure accountability within church structures.
Mazibuko further noted that the minister of home affairs had emphasised the role of the three recognised mother bodies and questioned whether this meant only these (three) would continue to exist. He explained that there were other established religious bodies and sought clarity on their status under the proposed system.
He welcomed the idea of regulating church operations, expressing concermn though with the absence of a proper regulatory instrument.
However, the reverend he pointed out that several issues would need to be considered moving forward.
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Mazibuko alleged that the process of registering churches under the ministry of commerce, industry and trade had caused tension within congregations, as it required submission of articles and led to disputes over leadership positions.
“We are no longer thinking about heaven, but about the positions we hold. Even if there are three or more mother bodies, they should be given authority, because it is difficult to give someone a responsibility without authority. The church bodies should be the ones with the final say,” he said.
We want to bring order – Govt
MINISTER of Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe has assured church leaders that government is not out to fight or frustrate churches, but to bring order and promote self-regulation through affiliated mother bodies.
She emphasised the need for structure. The minister said government currently lacks data on the number of churches or their affiliates. This was a key reason for the consultation.
“There have been complaints even in parliament about the mushrooming of churches and internal conflicts that tarnish the church’s image. Christians should lead by example and promote peace,” she said.
The minister said the process was part of implementing the policy on religion, with Christian churches being the starting point. She noted the confusion over church registration as some are listed under the ministry of commerce as companies and some as NGOs.
She stressed that churches should fall under home affairs, given their spiritual mandate, and clarified that the goal is not to control sermons but to encourage proper alignment.
Churches would be required to affiliate with one of the three recognised mother bodies; the League of African Churches, Conference of Churches, or Council of Churches. These bodies would report to the ministry and issue registration certificates.
The minister was hopeful that the new policy would foster peace and provide a clear framework for future governance.
Churches to be listed in religious organisations registry
THE ministry of home affairs will be responsible for listing the names of churches in the religious organisations registry.
This was revealed by National Civil Registrar Sidumo Malindzisa. He explained that the process would take place once churches are recognised by their respective mother bodies.
He said the ministry would compile the list of churches in the registry to ensure they are formally known to the ministry.
Malindzisa stated that the registry would include all churches operating within the country and its design would allow for registration by affiliation.
“The churches will operate freely but in consideration of the Constitution and the laws of the country.
They will regulate themselves and open their own bank accounts, much like cooperatives. Cooperatives draft their own constitutions, and the only standard element will be the bylaws,” he said.
