THE Zion Christian Church is one of the biggest churches in the country and will not be exempted from investigations by the commission investigating the abuse of people's belief systems.

This is according to the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL rights commission), which wrapped up its hearing in Gauteng early this month. The hearings ended with two pastors who refused to comply with the commission facing arrests.

Self-styled Prophet Paseka Motsoeneng, also known as Pastor Mboro, and "prophet" Samuel Radebe of the Revelation Church of God in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, face arrest. Radebe refused to appear before the commission, saying he had been advised that the commission was unwarranted to see financial statements of his church. Mboro also refused to co-operate with the CRL.

Nigerian pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy is challenging some sections of the commission's Act. Last week, the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg granted the application in favour of Oyakhilome to review the commission's powers. No criminal charges were laid against him pending the court case.

As the commission moves to other provinces, the ZCC will be among dozens of churches to be called for hearings. Muslims will also be summonsed when the CRL gets to Western Cape.

The commission, which is also investigating the commercialisation of religion, has been condemned. Church leaders have been opposed to its investigative study which was launched in August, saying certain churches were being targeted. "We are not targeting anyone. The Gauteng hearings have been a good example. We have had the Dutch Reformed Church, Catholic, Methodist and charismatic. We are looking into religion as a whole," said chairwoman Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva.

Hearings in Gauteng were marred by drama. Though it was supposed to take a week to see nearly 40 church leaders, it took more than a month as many asked for postponements while others delayed their sittings.

Security had to be beefed up at the commission's offices in Braamfontein after Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said she feared for her life as church leaders came in with guns.

Rivers of Living Waters leader Archbishop Stephen Zondo, Mboro, Pastor Lesego Daniels of Rabboni Centre Ministries and Rock of Victory leader Pastor Francis Anosike all brought armed guards to the hearings.

The chairwoman said she thought there would be prayers before they started. But that was not to be. "... it has been a very hectic time where we have men of God with armed guards who are threatening all of us. All we are doing is talking to religious people about how they manage church(es) and, suddenly, it's the Wild West," Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said.

She said the commission would hold meetings with church leaders in different provinces to avoid wrong messages being sent out to them. "This is a new approach. We have been to Durban where we explained things and pastors were happy. We will do this in all the remaining provinces."