REPORT ON RELIGION
Foreign pastors flouting law and fleecing locals
Commission for Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities report raises alarm that SA’s myriad churches are incorrectly regarded as nonprofit organisations
Foreign self-styled pastors operating in SA are coining it from congregants by flouting banking rules, avoiding taxes and moving funds out of the country irregularly, according to a report on religion. The Commission for Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities released its long-awaited report on Monday, in which it raises alarm that SA’s myriad churches are incorrectly regarded as nonprofit organisations even though their annual turnover often exceeds that of ordinary companies. "Some religious institutions tell their congregates that money has to be paid to their head offices and, as we discovered, most of these head offices are based outside the country. "Some religious leaders do not apply to the Reserve Bank before money is repatriated out of the country," reads the report. Some institutions lacked governance structures and systems — including disciplinary committees, independent finance committees and internal succession plans — leaving members vulnerable to ex...
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