Pastor Steven Anderson: I’m already in South Africa

The South African Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, has announced today that US pastor Steven Anderson will be denied entry into South Africa.

Human rights advocates in Botswana, the other country Anderson planned to visit, have launched a petition to get their government to follow South Africa’s lead and ban Anderson from visiting their country. “I feel sorry for people who live in South Africa, but thank God we still have a wide open door in Botswana”.

USA pastor Steven Anderson has been barred from entering South Africa over his anti-LGBT views.

Anderson, of the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Arizona, notoriously welcomed the gunning down in June of 50 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida by saying “there’s 50 less pedophiles in this world”. Mr Gigaba added: “I have identified Steven Anderson as an undesirable person to travel to South Africa”.

A number of local businesses, including the hotel Anderson had tried to book into, have already refused to service him.

It expressed its concern that Anderson was undermining the Equality Act even though he had not yet entered the country.

“Pastor Anderson has been accused of hate speech against the LGBTI community‚” the statement said.

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba said the preacher, who goes on rants about the “evils” of homosexuality in his sermons, would not be allowed a visa.

A task team, made of representatives of South African LGBTI organisations and department officials, was set up during this meeting.

Its important to note, that unlike the U.S., hate speech in South Africa has consequences, and people are not free to use speech that incites violence.

Pledging their unwavering support for the LGBTI community, the department said, “Our Constitution enjoins us to recognise the injustices of our past and honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land”.