Qwelane shouldn't be our ambassador to Uganda- DA

Zuma's ambassadorial proposal would constitute endorsement of Ugandan death penalty bill

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned that the mooted appointment of Jon Qwelane as South African ambassador to Uganda will damage South Africa's credibility internationally as a country which promotes tolerance and human rights.

Jon Qwelane is an admitted homophobe, and his appointment could be seen as a tacit endorsement of the repressive stance Uganda is taking on homosexuality. The Ugandan government is in the process of installing the death penalty for homosexual acts, and the DA is of the opinion that the appointment of Mr. Qwelane would not take into account the serious nature of this. Instead of sending an admitted homophobe to Uganda, South Africa should be making an effort to demonstrate its disapproval of this policy.

Mr. Qwelane's deeply prejudiced views have been aired for all to see in the Sunday Sun. In one column during July 2008, for instance, he praised Robert Mugabe for his "unflinching and unapologetic stance over homosexuals"; another time, in October 2006, he wrote about how he would "condemn and disown" his own family members if they turned out to be gay (see article).

Yet at a time when South Africa ought to be lobbying along with other progressive nations for Uganda to drop their appalling proposal to impose the death penalty for homosexual acts, and to instead champion a culture of human rights, the President appears to be moving to appoint a man whose record for promoting intolerance, homophobia and prejudice in South Africa is well established and largely unparalleled.

We hope that the President will reconsider Qwelane as an Ambassadorial candidate.

Statement issued by Lindiwe Mazibuko, MP, Democratic Alliance national spokesperson, January 19 2010

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responses to this article

Since When? Since when did opposing Sodomy constitute homophobia? Qwelane is welcome to Uganda, he is a true African that understands our culture. Unlike those still harbouring an apartheid mentality by Obina Okumu, Uganda on January 19 2010, 15:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zuma is terrible for SA Zuma needs to read our constitution, he seems to have forgotten the rights of gays and lesbians are enshrined in there. It is truly shocking that someone like Zuma, who lived through Apartheid, and felt discrimination first hand, is so ready to . .more appoint a homophobe as ambassador. Zuma is a disgrace! For him to speak out against homosexuality while eying-out his sixth wife is embarrassing. Well done to the DA for taking the moral high ground yet again on this important issue. What people do in their own bedrooms is none of anyone's concern. . .less by Alex on January 19 2010, 19:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zuma is bad for SA I agree Zuma is homophobic; and so is Jon Qwelane. Two idiots ... oops! Two peas from the same pod. by Ngwenya on January 20 2010, 01:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Good riddance We're better off with of without Qwelane in SA. Let the Ugandans keep the racist bigot. by Spartacus on January 20 2010, 07:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

JQ LET THE RACIST GO AND FROM UGANDA TO ZIM by IVAN on January 20 2010, 08:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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