DocumentOngoingNews

Public Hearings Shed Light Abuse Church

GCIS / SAnewsRef: https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/public-hearings-shed-light-abuse-church

Official source

Source domain: sanews.gov.za

Collected on 28 July 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

What this means

The South African Government Communication and Information System (SAnews) reports that the Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Women, Bathabile Dlamini, announced plans to hold national public hearings into abuse committed under the guise of religion and faith. The hearings are intended to give women a platform to speak about their experiences, break the “silencing” of such abuse, and help create a supportive environment for victims to identify and leave abusive relationships. Dlamini also said her department will revisit the Sexual Offences Act, including the Domestic Violence Act and Criminal Procedures Act, and will consult the Bar Council of Advocates regarding advocate conduct in the Pastor Tim Omotoso trial, while also engaging Home Affairs and International Relations on migration issues related to unregulated religious institutions headed by foreign nationals.

What this document offers

Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.

public hearingOngoing

National Public Hearings on Abuse in the Guise of Religion and Faith

Women are invited to speak publicly about their experiences of abuse in religious settings such as churches, synagogues, and mosques. These hearings aim to break the silence around abuse, support healing, and create a safe environment for victims to come forward.

Who it is for: women who have experienced abuse in religious institutions
How to act on it: Attend the national public hearings when they are scheduled; no application process is described, but participation is open to those with lived experience.

Show the line this came from

The hearings will be national, and will invite women to speak out against their experiences of abuses in the guise of religion and faith. These abuses can be in churches, synagogues and mosques…

Facts

Places

Eastern Cape, Nelson Mandela Bay

Reference

https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/public-hearings-shed-light-abuse-church

Key Takeaways

Announcement date: Monday, 22 October 2018 (published Tuesday, 23 October 2018)
Minister: Bathabile Dlamini (Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Women)
Subject: public hearings on abuse in the guise of religion and faith
Context: briefing held on sidelines of Pastor Tim Omotoso trial at Eastern Cape High Court, Port Elizabeth
Hearings: national; invite women to speak about abuses in churches, synagogues and mosques
Policy/legal review: revisit Sexual Offences Act, Domestic Violence Act, and Criminal Procedures Act to strengthen laws protecting women
Victim protection: address secondary trauma from cross-examination; consult Bar Council of Advocates; involve Law Society of South Africa
Migration deliberations: meetings with Departments of Home Affairs and International Relations regarding migration and unregulated religious institutions headed by foreign nationals
Bathabile Dlamini
Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Women
Pastor Tim Omotoso
Eastern Cape High Court
Government Communication and Information System (SAnews)
Bar Council of Advocates
Law Society of South Africa
Department of Home Affairs
Department of International Relations
Sexual Offences Act
Domestic Violence Act
Criminal Procedures Act