Well-known Eastern Cape cultural activist Dr Nokuzola Mndende has been appointed to the 13-member Commission for Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL) Rights Commission).
The commission is an independent Chapter 9 institution. Its mandate is to promote respect for, and further the protection of the rights of cultural, religious and linguistic communities.
It is also aimed at promoting and developing peace, friendship, humanity, tolerance, national unity among and within cultural, religious and linguistic communities.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the appointment of the team earlier this week and it includes the likes of Professor Pitika Ntuli, Mandla Langa, Tsholofelo Mosala, Ramokone Trypina Kgatla and Dr Muneer Abduroaf, Sheila Kama, Sicelo Dlamini, Nomalanga Tyamzashe, advocate Richard Botha and Renier Schoeman.
Professor Luka David Mosoma, who served as deputy chair in the previous term, has been promoted to serve as the new chairman. He will be assisted by Dr Sylvia Mmamohapi Pheto as the new CRL deputy chair.
Kama, Dlamini, Tyamzashe, Botha and Schoeman will be serving a second term as CRL Rights commissioners.
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Contacted for comment Mndende confirmed receiving the good news of her appointment to the commission, saying they “are most welcome”.
She said she would focus mainly on promoting indigenous religions, “which for quite a while have not been recognised as such. Not to say I want to promote African religion at the expense of any other region, but it also deserves to be popularised, as South African constitution promotes equality,” said Mndende.
Arts and culture MEC Fezeka Baye welcomed Mndende’s inclusion in the commission, saying she was “greatly respected and possesses in-depth knowledge in the fields of African spirituality and heritage”.
“We believe that Dr Mndende’s knowledge, insights and experience are a perfect mix for the mandate of the Commission,” said Bayeni.
Executive director of Freedom of Religion South Africa (Forsa) Michael Swain also welcomed the announcement of the commissioners.
The department of traditional affairs called for nominations last August as the term of office of the Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva-led team was due to end this year.
Among the cases the commission had to deal with was investigating the allegations that a dead man had been resurrected at the Alleluia International Ministries church.
The team also had to investigate reports of pastors who were allegedly feeding congregants dogs, bleach, snakes and also spraying people with insecticides.
Swain said at a time where globally there was a serious erosion of religious freedom in multiple areas, the CRL had “a critical role to play in creating an environment wherein religious communities could flourish”.
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