DA: KZN pastor’s homophobia puts gay people in danger

The Democratic Alliance says it’s “appalled” by a KwaZulu-Natal pastor’s dangerous statement that gay people are to blame for the country’s drought.

Shembe Church leader, Mduduzi Shembe made the alleged remarks at a gathering at Enyokeni Palace over the weekend.

It’s reported he said: “Men are now marrying men and that is why we are currently facing the curse of a hot sun and drought.”

DA KZN Leader Zwakele Mncwango commented that if Shembe did indeed make the remarks, they were not only irresponsible but also inflammatory.

“In a society that respects and obey the leader’s orders, it will be rather disturbing when a leader makes such remarks. This automatically puts every gay person in danger to be attacked for ‘causing drought’ in the province,” said Mncwango.

He pointed out that, “Section 9 (3) of South Africa’s Constitution clearly prohibits unfair discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.”

Mncwango added that the comments fly in the face of efforts to end the discrimination of people according to their sexual orientation.

The Durban Lesbian and Gay Community and Health Centre has said it will lodge a complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission. It’s also been reported that the Commission for Gender Equality is investigating the statement.

The Shembe church has approximately five million members in South Africa, with two factions embroiled in a bitter leadership battle since 2011.