The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) salutes Professor Musa Xulu following his resignation as Chairperson of the Cultural, Religious and Linguistic (CRL) Rights Commission’s Section 22 Committee.
Among some of the reasons that ultimately led to his resignation, Prof Xulu highlighted the following disturbing irregularities:
1. He had no knowledge of how the CRL Section 22 Committee was constituted.
2. He was not aware of processes that were followed in appointing him or other members of the Committee.
3. He noted that the Chairperson of COGTA’s Parliamentary Portfolio Committee, Dr Zweli Mkhize, had expressed serious unease about the Section 22 Committee processes.
4. He further pointed to racist remarks, personal vendettas and abuse of State power by Ms. Mkhwanazi-Xaluva and said that he could no longer serve as Chairperson of a Committee whose processes he does not control, outcomes which he does not endorse, and the existence of which is a front to disguise a predetermined agenda of State control of religion.
The ACDP has been concerned about whether the Section 22 Committee members were appointed by a formal resolution of the Commissioners or by Ms Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva alone. Prof Xulu has made it clear that he was appointed not by the Commissioners, but by Ms Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, and has confirmed that the other Commissioners had been excluded in the process of his appointment.
The ACDP, along with many other organisations, has raised concerns that Ms. Mkhwanazi-Xaluva seems to be carrying out certain functions in an undemocratic manner by failing to consult. A classic example of this is a tendency to intimidate the Church with arrests for failing to register with the CRL that many in the Church do not trust.
Professor Xulu stated that Ms Mkhwanazi-Xaluva undermined him as the Chairman and would totally usurp his powers. She has on multiple occasions denied the fact that the State does not plan to regulate the Church while her utterances pointed to the very facts she denied.
On behalf of the ACDP, I hereby call for the resignation of the Chairperson of the CRL Rights Commission, Ms. Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, who has shown some undemocratic tendencies such as, appointing the Section 22 Committee Chairperson without consulting fellow Commissioners.
We believe that she is unfit for her position and does not positively promote the constitutional mandate of the CRL Rights Commission.
