Media Statement

The African National Congress (ANC) has noted the concerns raised by the South African Church Defenders (SACD) and their intention to embark on a march against the proposed regulation of churches by the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission).

The ANC shares a profound historical relationship with the church and the broader faith-based community, a relationship deeply rooted in the founding of our movement in 1912 and sustained through successive generations of struggle for freedom, justice and human dignity. The church has been an integral part of the history of the ANC, providing spiritual guidance, moral leadership and solidarity in the struggle against colonialism and apartheid.

It is in recognition of this enduring relationship that the ANC maintains a Chaplaincy, which continues to serve as an important platform for fraternal relations and engagement with churches, religious leaders and faith-based organisations across the country.

Earlier this year, the National Officials of the ANC met with the leadership of the South African Church Defenders as part of ongoing engagements on matters of mutual interest and concern. These engagements are not isolated. Through its Chaplaincy, the ANC has maintained continuous relations with the SACD and other faith-based organisations, recognising their important role in the spiritual, moral and social development of our communities.

The ANC wishes to reaffirm that it has neither called for nor advocated state regulation or control of churches and their religious affairs. Our position remains that churches and religious institutions must be free to govern and regulate their own affairs within the ambit of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

The constitutional right to freedom of religion, belief and association is a fundamental democratic gain secured through the sacrifices of generations of South Africans as led by the ANC. It must be protected and respected, while ensuring that religious institutions uphold the rights, dignity and wellbeing of all people.The ANC respects the concerns raised by SACD and remains committed to constructive engagement with the organisation and the broader religious community to ensure that these matters are addressed through dialogue, mutual respect and fidelity to the Constitution.

We remain unshakable in our defence of the constitutional rights and freedoms of all religious communities, including religious minorities. Freedom of religion, belief and association constitutes an indispensable pillar of our constitutional democracy and is firmly entrenched in the Bill of Rights. As South Africa celebrates 30 years since the adoption of its Constitution in 1996, the ANC calls upon all sectors of society to respect, protect and promote these fundamental freedoms, which are among the enduring democratic gains of our liberation struggle.

The ANC wishes to reaffirm that it has neither called for nor advocated state control of churches and their religious affairs. Our position remains that churches and religious institutions must enjoy the freedom to govern and regulate their own affairs within the ambit of the Constitution and the laws of the Republic The church has been a partner in the struggle for freedom and remains an important partner in building a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.

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