‘Homophobic’ pastor will be allowed into SA



The Minister of Home Affairs‚ Malusi Gigaba‚ cannot turn away a 'homophobic' pastor who is headed for South Africa in September. News of pastor Steven Anderson coming to the country on a “soul winning mission” later this year broke on Wednesday prompting a social media outcry and an online petition to Gigaba to stop him from coming to the country due to his hate speech against gay people.Department of Home Affairs spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete said the minister is not in a position to turn away the Arizona-based pastor."The minister empathises with the LGBT community but firstly Americans do not need visas to come to South Africa or any form of permission from the department. We feel that the comments made by the pastor were uncalled for but the law doesn’t allow us to turn away anyone from entering the country based on what they have said‚" Tshwete said.He added that the minister has consulted his legal advisers on the matter."The minister has consulted his lawyers and he is still looking for another possible option but at this point it’s going to be impossible to turn the pastor away as he has not been found to have done anything illegal in our country by any court or even in his own country." Tshwete said the ministry advices the LGBT community to approach the South African Human Rights Commission which the minister will support.