DA appalled by Anti-gay sentiments

23 November 2015

The DA in KwaZulu-Natal is dismayed at the anti-gay remarks made by the Shembe Church Leader, Mduduzi Shembe, at a gathering at Enyokeni Palace over the weekend. The outrageous remarks that gays are responsible for the drought crippling the province are not just irresponsible but also inflammatory.

In a society that respects and obey the Leader’s orders, it is 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.

We call upon Shembe church members to come out strongly against their Leader’s utterances and distance themselves from such remarks. Section 9 (3) of South Africa's Constitution clearly prohibits unfair discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

The remarks smacks all the efforts that have been made to end the discrimination of people according to their sexual orientation.

The DA is committed to a country where everyone is treated with fairness and not discriminated against because of their sexual orientation, religion or creed.

Issued by Zwakele Mncwango, DA KZN Leader, 23 November 2015