The Voice of the Church Echoes: Thousands Gather for the SACD National Christian March 2025

Pretoria, South Africa — 8 October 2025

On a historic Wednesday morning, thousands of Christians from across South Africa flooded the streets of Pretoria in a powerful show of unity and conviction. The National Christian March, organized by the South African Church Defenders (SACD), marked a defining moment in the fight to protect religious freedom and the autonomy of the Church from state overreach.

Standing for Faith and Freedom

The march began at the Old Putco Bus Depot in Marabastad, where buses, taxis, and private vehicles arrived through the night from every province — Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, the Northern Cape, and the Western Cape. Worshippers gathered in song, prayer, and praise before setting off toward the Union Buildings.

The procession moved along Struben Street, Sophie De Bruyn Street, and Madiba Street, closing major intersections as Christians marched peacefully under one banner — “For Christ. For Freedom. For the Church.”

Placards read:

“Defend the Church”“Stop State Control of Religion”“We Serve God, Not Government”“The Gates of CRL Shall Not Prevail”

At every intersection, one message echoed above all: the Church belongs to Christ, not to the state.

“We will not allow government to decide how we worship God,” said one of the march organizers. “Our calling comes from Heaven, not from Parliament.”

The Message to the Nation

At the Union Buildings, a delegation from SACD and various church leaders presented a memorandum of demands to the Office of the President, represented by Mr. Shonisani Mudau.

Their memorandum called for:

• The immediate removal of CRL Chairperson Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva for her ongoing hostility toward the Christian faith.

• The complete rejection of the so-called “peer-review system,” viewed as a veiled attempt to bring churches under state regulation.

• A Parliamentary investigation into the CRL Rights Commission’s actions, bias, and funding.

  
  

“How Can the Corrupt Regulate Holiness?”

Delivering one of the day’s most powerful moments, Pastor Mpfariseni Mukhuba, Chairperson, South African Church Defenders challenged the moral authority of those seeking to control the Church:

“How can the corrupt regulate holiness? How can a government that fails to uphold morality attempt to oversee the sanctity of the Church?”

Her bold words drew thunderous applause and quickly spread across social media under the hashtags #DefendTheChurch, #XaluvaMustGo, and #ChurchFreedomNow.

“We are not opposed to oversight,” said Pastor Don Pretorius. “But accountability must be rooted in Scripture, not in government structures.”

A Peaceful Yet Powerful Protest

The march remained peaceful and dignified from start to finish. The Tshwane Metro Police Department and South African Police Service managed the route and ensured the safety of participants.

By early afternoon, the sea of believers had peacefully dispersed, leaving behind a resonant message that will not easily fade: “The Church will not bow to political interference.”

The Significance of the March

The National Christian March 2025 was not just a demonstration — it was a declaration of faith and freedom. It signified a new era of unity among believers determined to safeguard

South Africa’s constitutional right to religious freedom.

The SACD has long cautioned that attempts by the CRL Rights Commission to “regulate” religion represent a direct violation of that freedom. The proposed peer-review system, they argue, would hand the state authority to decide which ministries may operate — a dangerous precedent in any democracy.

“When the state begins to license worship, it ceases to be democracy and becomes tyranny disguised as accountability,” reads an SACD statement.

The Road Ahead

In the wake of the successful march, SACD leaders have announced a continuing national campaign to protect the Church’s independence, including:

• Regional mobilization meetings across provinces to educate believers on their constitutional rights.

• Legal consultations with Christian lawyers to prepare constitutional challenges if regulation is re-introduced.

• Public awareness drives to inform congregations of developments around religious legislation.

  
  

Pastor Rooies Strauss, SACD , emphasized the movement’s commitment beyond the streets:

“This is not the end — it is the beginning of a national awakening. We will continue to defend the Church, challenge unjust policies, and stand together as one Body under Christ.”

For Christ. For Freedom. For the Church.

As the sun set over the Union Buildings, thousands lifted their hands and voices in worship. The final chant of the day — “For Christ! For Freedom! For the Church!” — echoed through Pretoria, proclaiming the Church’s unbroken spirit.

“Jesus said, ‘I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’” On 8 October 2025, that truth resounded again — loud and clear — across the capital of South Africa.

About the South African Church Defenders (SACD)

The South African Church Defenders (SACD) is a national Christian movement dedicated to defending the freedom, dignity, and voice of the Church. Through advocacy, mobilization, and prayer, SACD stands for a South Africa where believers can worship freely without fear or interference.

🌐 Website: www.sachurchdefenders.org📧 Email: info@sachurchdefenders.org

“For Christ. For Freedom. For the Church.”