ramaphosa sona 2019 fact checked

President Cyril Ramaphosa putting final touches to his State of the Nation Address at his official Residence Genadendaal in Cape Town. 06/02/2019, Elmond Jiyane, GCIS

Cyril Ramaphosa says regulating faith-based organisations is unconstitutional

There is a fine line between right and wrong when it comes to faith-based organisations, said Ramaphosa.

ramaphosa sona 2019 fact checked

President Cyril Ramaphosa putting final touches to his State of the Nation Address at his official Residence Genadendaal in Cape Town. 06/02/2019, Elmond Jiyane, GCIS

In a week where South Africans were shocked by the unravelling of staged ‘miracle’ performances, President Cyril Ramaphosa called spiritual leaders to task for mismanaging the power of faith.

As reported by EWN, the president was critical of people who assume the image of a spiritual leader, only to take advantage of their blind followers.

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This, Ramaphosa said, is the responsibility of South Africa — to get rid of fraudsters who use faith to target vulnerable people.

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However, it is difficult to do this and the president understands. One direct approach would be to regulate faith-based organisations.

In the early parts of 2018, the Commission for the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Commission) tabled a “regulations for religion” submission at the cooperative governance and traditional affairs’ portfolio committee.

This, according to Freedom of Religion South Africa, would allow for the CRL Commission to have executive powers over the conduct of religious organisations in the country.

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However, this submission was thrown out by the committee, citing that it would require the amendment of the CRL Act, as well as the Constitution.

Ramaphosa shares the same sentiment. He believes that it hampers on the people’s freedom of religion.

However, he did warn those who use religion to profit from vulnerable, unsuspecting people, against bringing the name of God into disrepute.

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“Those who are doing things that are completely shocking, of trying to hoodwink the whole nation and saying that someone has been raised from the dead, it is actually bringing the name of the Lord, of God and of churches into disrepute,” he said.