Gay rights groups have called on government to ban a “hate preaching” American pastor from South Africa.
Within a few hours of 49 LGBTI people being gunned down in a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, Pastor Steven L Anderson preached: “The good news is that there’s 50 less paedophiles in this world, because, you know, these homosexuals are a bunch of disgusting perverts and paedophiles.”
The pastor is heading to SA in September on a “soul-winning marathon”, sparking outrage among local gay rights groups.
In 2014, Anderson called for gay people to be executed.
On Monday, gay lifestyle and news website MambaOnline.com revealed the pastor’s plans to recruit new members for his Faithful Word Baptist Church in Mzansi.
According to the website and Anderson’s Facebook page, he will arrive on September 18 for a day-long event.
It will include a breakfast at a Spur in Kempton Park, lunch at a Wimpy and a church service at the Premier Hotel at OR Tambo International Airport.
GaySA Radio Station manager Hendrik Baird has asked Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba to deny Anderson access to South Africa and prevent the Arizona-based pastor from spreading “hate Christianity”.
“LGBTI rights are protected in our constitution and it is my belief that we cannot let a proponent of the murder of LGBTI people into our country to spread his hate,” Baird wrote.
“Please, sir, stand up for our rights and protect us from this man and his group.”