CRL RIGHTS COMMISSION PRESENTATION ON THE DISCUSSIONS AROUND

CRL RIGHTS COMMISSION PRESENTATION ON THE DISCUSSIONS AROUND CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN MRS. THOKO MKHWANAZI-XALUVA CHAIRPERSON: CRL RIGHTS COMMISSION JOINT MEETING OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEES ON POLICE AND WOMEN IN THE PRESIDENCY PARLIAMENT 29 AUGUST 2018

MANDATE • IN TERMS OF THE CRL ACT, THE MANDATE OF THE COMMISSION FOR THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND LINGUISTIC COMMUNITIES (CRL RIGHTS COMMISSION), IS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND LINGUISTIC RIGHTS OF COMMUNITIES

CHALLENGES IN THE CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND HEALING SECTOR AS PER THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT 1. PHYSICAL ABUSE : • PHYSICAL ABUSE OF INITIATES AND AMATHWASA • GENITAL MUTILATIONS • ASSUALT OF INITIATES

CHALLENGES IN THE CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND HEALING SECTOR AS PER THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT 2. EMOTIONAL, VERBAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE : • DEGRADING AND BELITTLING LANGUAGE USED • MIND MANIPULATION AND INDOCTRINATION OF CONGREGANTS • THREATS OF DEATH IF ONE FAILS TO SUBMIT TO THE RELIGIOUS LEADER’ INSTRUCTIONS • SEXUAL VICTIMS FORCED TO RECITE PSALM 51

CHALLENGES IN THE CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND HEALING SECTOR ABUSE 3. ECONOMIC ABUSE : • SELLING OF FAITH PRODUCTS • SELF ENRICHMENT BY SOME INITIATION SCHOOL OWNERS, GOBELAS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS • PAYMENT FOR PRAYERS E. G. FEE STRUCTURE FOR SPECIAL PRAYERS WITH A PARTICULAR PROPHET a. OPTION ONE - R 8200

CHALLENGES IN THE CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND HEALING SECTOR AS PER THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT b. OPTION TWO – R 11500 c. OPTION THREE UP TO - R 21000. 00 E. G. A WHITE COUPLE WAS MADE TO PAY AN AMOUNT OF R 250 000. 00, TO A TRADITIONAL HEALER, WITH THE FALSE PROMISE THAT THE HEALER WILL HELP HER CONCIEVE A CHILD.

CHALLENGES IN THE CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND HEALING SECTOR AS PER THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT 4. STALKING : • MONITORING OF VICTIMS BY SOME RELIGIOUS LEADERS (MOBILE PHONES AND MOVEMENTS) AS PART OF SEXUAL GROOMING 5. INTIMIDATION : • CHILDREN ARE INTIMIDATED AT SCHOOL TOILETS TO GO TO INITIATION • SEXUALLY VIOLATED VICTIMS ARE THREATENED BY SOME RELIGIOUS LEADERS

CHALLENGES IN THE CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND HEALING SECTOR AS PER THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT 6. HARRASMENT : • VERBAL INSULTS AND NAME CALLING OF WOMEN AND GILRS BY SOME RELIGIOUS LEADERS • DEGRADING OF CONGREGANTS HUMAN DIGNITIES 7. GENDER FAULT LINES FEMALE HEADED HOUSEHOLDS TARGETED IN ABDUCTION OF CHILDREN FOR INITIATION AND SO CALLED UKUTHWALA MORE WOMEN ATTEND CHURCHES WHERE THERE ARE PROBLEMS 8. SEXUAL ABUSE : • RAPE OF AMATHWASA, YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS

CRL RIGHTS COMMISSION CHALLENGES WITH SAPS 1. SUMMONS : • IN 2016, SOME RELIGIOUS LEADERS REFUSED TO HONOUR SUMMONS. • INSTEAD, THEY BLOCKED OUR GATES. • POLICE WERE CALLED. • TO DATE WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE POLICE.

CRL RIGHTS COMMISSION CHALLENGES WITH SAPS 2. SECURITY RISKS : • SAPS DID A SECURITY RISK ASSESSMENT ON THE CHAIRPERSON AND THE REPORT SAID THAT THE RISK IS VERY HIGH. • TO DATE NO SECURITY HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE CHAIRPERSON.

CRL RIGHTS COMMISSION CHALLENGES WITH SAPS • ONE OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WE HAVE OPENED A CASE AGAINST, WAS RECENTLY GIVEN AN AWARD BY THE JOHANNESBURG CENTRAL CLUSTER POLICE. • POLICE REFUSE TO OPEN CASES, AND IF THEY DO, THERE IS NO FOLLOW UP • CASES OPENED BY THE CRLRC NOT FINALISED SINCE 2016 AND ANOTHER FROM AUGUST 2017 ON INTIMIDATION, CRIMEN INJURIA AND HARASSMENT

CRL RIGHTS COMMISSION CHALLENGES WITH SAPS • THE POLICE CUTTING HAIR OF LEARNERS FROM THE NAZARETH CHURCH (KWASHEMBE)

CRL RIGHTS COMMISSION CHALLENGES WITH SAPS 3. THE TESTIMONY OF A MOTHER WHOSE DAUGHTERS WERE SEXUALLY VIOLATED BY A RELIGIOUS LEADER.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION • WE BELIEVE THAT THE ROLE OF THE STATE IS TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS. • THE CRL RIGHTS COMMISSION PROPOSES THE REGULATION OF THE RELIGIOUS SECTOR. • AN URGENT NEED FOR A PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

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