Crl Commission Urges Churches To Be Cautious During Baptisms

The Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights CRL Commission has warned religious leaders to exercise caution and avoid conducting baptisms in unsafe waters this Easter weekend.

The Easter long weekend is traditionally associated with baptisms and cleansing rituals.

However, persistent heavy rains across many parts of the country have led to emergency services warning the public to stay away from riverbanks.

Commission Chairperson Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva says the safety of congregants must be a top priority.

As the CRL Rights Commission, we are pleading with the religious leaders to be cautious as we go into the Easter because most of them will be conducting baptisms in rivers. There have been weather warnings especially in KZN and Gauteng. Wherever in South Africa, that when they approach a river, they must be cautious that they should not expose their congregants to an unsafe environment. If they see that its not safe, they postpone their baptism that they had planned to do, especially in KZN.