Press Release: President appoints new CRL Rights Commissioners

PRESS RELEASE

21 June 2019

For immediate distribution

President appoints new CRL Rights Commissioners

The Presidency has published the names of the thirteen persons appointed as Commissioners of the CRL Rights Commission (“the CRL”) for the next five years.

The newly appointed CRL Chair is Prof Luka David Mosoma, who served as Deputy Chair in the previous term. He will be assisted by Dr Sylvia Mmamohapi Pheto as the new CRL Deputy Chair (who is also new to the Commission). Five other Commissioners have been re-appointed for another term, namely Ms Sheila Kama, Mr Sicelo Dlamini, Ms Nomalanga Tyamzashe, Adv Richard Botha and Mr Renier Schoeman. Another six Commissioners are new appointments, namely Ms Tsholofelo Mosala, Dr Oscarine Nokuzolo Mndende, Ms Ramokone Trypina Kgatla, Dr Muneer Abduroaf, Prof Pitika Ntuli, and Mr Mandla Langa.

According to Michael Swain, Executive Director of Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA), “FOR SA welcomes the appointment of the new Commissioners and is committed to working with the Commission to ensure that the religious rights of all persons in South Africa (including religious practitioners and their congregants), are protected and promoted.”

Commenting further, Swain said: “In a time where globally there is a serious erosion of religious freedom in multiple areas, the CRL has a critical role to play in creating an environment wherein religious communities can flourish, and religious believers can give expression to their deepest convictions and beliefs within the rule of law. As such, the Commission’s role should be not to control, but to enable and enhance believers’ exercising of their religious rights.”

ENDS.

For more information, contact:

Michael Swain
Executive Director, FOR SA
Email: Michael.swain@forsa.org.za
Cell: 072 270 1217