Charismatic churches targeted with hostility, claims resigning CRL Committee Chair

Reverend Musa Xulu, the former chairperson of a committee tasked with regulating the Christian faith, has accused the CRL Rights Commission of treating Charismatic and Pentecostal Christians with suspicion and hostility.

During a press briefing held on Thursday to announce his resignation, Xulu levelled serious allegations against the commission’s leadership. Xulu was originally appointed by the CRL to head the Section 22 Committee, a body established to address abuse and harmful practices within the Christian community.

The resignation follows a highly publicised fallout between Xulu and the commission’s chairperson, Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva. Xulu described the chairperson’s leadership style as "toxic" and claimed that the commission has developed a biased agenda against specific denominations.

While South Africa has witnessed several instances of outrageous acts by religious leaders—including pastors forcing congregants to eat grass or spraying them with insecticide—Xulu maintains that the church is capable of self-regulation.

He argued that during his tenure, it became increasingly clear that the CRL Commission was unfairly targeting specific sectors of Christianity.

"There is an undertone of targeting Pentecostals and Charismatics," Xulu stated. "They even believe some of the things that are generated by AI, like those pastors you see on Facebook; they believe that this is the devil in action."

Xulu also challenged Mkhwanazi-Xaluva’s claim that the Section 22 Committee represents the interests of 45 million Christians in South Africa. He alleged that the commission’s consultative processes were flawed and exclusionary.

According to Xulu, many voices were left out of the conversation, while those who opposed the formal regulation of Christian churches were frequently avoided, silenced, or intimidated.