By Staff Reporter
South Africa is considered a very religious country and the church is the strongest and most influential non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Neither the government nor any other NGO can reach and influence the public more regularly and consistently more than the church.
Moreover, more than three quarters of the population have indicated that they are affiliated with the Christian religion (79.8% – Census 2001). There are approximately 43,000 Christian faith communities in South Africa and the infrastructure of these churches reaches every corner of our country.
It’s clear therefore, that no one who wants to mobilise society can ignore the pervasiveness of these faith communities.
But it has been argued that religion often inhibits change and, in many cases, it instinctively protects the status quo.
We seek to shed light on issues of faith and what role Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) can play in building better men, families, communities and indeed a better South Africa.
We kick-start our discussions with understating the legal and policy provisions so as we place the church in its proper context within the broader society.
Section 15(1) of the Constitution, 1998 states that everyone has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief, and opinion.
In addition, Section 31(1) (a) states, persons belonging to a cultural, religious, or linguistic community may not be denied the right, to enjoy their culture, practice their religion, and use their language.
To ensure equitable and just promotion and protection of religious freedom emanate from the acknowledgement and acceptance that religion in South Africa, government established the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission).
The Commission is one of the Chapter Nine Institutions which is founded in terms of Section 181 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996.
The Commission was established to guard, promote democracy and the rights of the citizens of the country. It is an independent institution and subject only to the Constitution. Its activities and functions are to be impartial, and powers must be exercised and performed without fear, favour or prejudice.
Although the Chapter Nines are state institutions, they operate outside government and partisan politics, and they are free from interference by other organs of state.
The Constitution asserts their independence in authoritative terms, using language that is in keeping with that used to declare the independence of the judiciary.
Chapter Nine Institutions are intermediary institutions which provide an opportunity for public participation in a way that the individual and collective needs of citizens can be articulated outside the partial environment of party politics.
This independence provides a reliable voice for people and contributes to the programme of transformation to which the Constitution commits these institutions.
