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Members of Ikhaya Labafundi bakaJehova Church in KwaMaphumulo in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Department of Social Development in KwaZulu-Natal has removed 19 children from a controversial religious group at KwaMaphumulo, which has been accused of violating the rights of children and isolating its members from society.
The removal of the children was confirmed during a visit to the farm, where the group is based, by a delegation from government and the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL).
The Chairperson of the CRL Rights Commission, Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, was welcomed with song and dance by members of the iKhaya Labafundi bakaJehova religious group — led by Vusumuzi Sibiya.
Mkhwanazi-Xaluva highlighted the urgent need to establish a council to regulate the operation of churches in the country. Her oversight visit follows reports of possible human rights violations.
It is alleged that members are discouraged from taking chronic medication, seeking medical care, or pursuing formal education, as these are believed to conflict with the church’s teachings.
Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said the operations were unethical.
“We have said to Rev Sibiya that what is happening here is unconstitutional because people here, their rights to life is at risk, and he has actually given us an impetus as CRL to even push harder for the regulation that will create a council for Christians. They would have been here a month ago and they would have told Sibiya that what you are doing here is out of order and he would have been forced to shut it down,” says Mkhwanazi-Xaluva.
CRL commissioner Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva and KwaZulu-Natal MEC for social development Mbali Shinga welcomed by the church leader of Ikhaya Labafundi Faith Mission Church in KwaMaphumulo. For more visit
Credit: Mlondi Radebe pic.twitter.com/QQnNW5uJeA— SABC News (@SABCNews) April 16, 2026
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Social Development, Mbali Shinga, confirmed that 19 children have since been removed from the church. She says the department will closely monitor the situation.
Responding to the commission’s request, church leader Vusumuzi Sibiya said the matter is beyond his control, claiming that he does not hold authority over the congregants’ decisions.
“We are not contending with the laws of this country, but the challenge comes when the two laws clash, God’s laws and laws of the country and that is where the problem starts. The problem is that I am not the one who brought them here, and I conclude that it’s God. I don’t have any power to send them back since it’s God who brought them here,” adds Sibiya.
Congregants Bongikazi Mvani and Noluthando Ngidi insisted that they are not going anywhere, instead, they have been revived and energised.
One of the congregants says, “They have concluded that we have to go back to our homes, but unfortunately, we are not going to do that because we have taken a decision we are going to work for the kingdom of God fulltime, which is different from the kingdom of this world. We are not going back home.”
Sibiya has been ordered to appear before the local traditional authority next week.
Related video| A secluded KwaMaphumulo religious community north of Durban redefines devotion:
