SDA pastor in court over gay speech

A Seventh Day Adventist preacher Bishop Joshua Maponga has come under fire after revering to homosexual people as people with animalistic behaviour.  A fellow church member only identified as Simayi has taken him to court.

The Zimbabwean born Maponga has been hauled before the courts in South Africa where he is based  over his statements. The Port Elizabeth Magistrate s Court, sitting as the Equality Court, on 19 November will hear Maponga's charges of homophobic hate speech.

In the video, filmed at the KwaMangxaki church in Port Elizabeth, Maponga refers to the Bible and talks about the lustfulness of the Gentiles.

"In Chapter One Romans we learn about homosexuality – we learn about animalistic behaviours," he says. "In one sentence, when human beings are left to themselves without God, they reduce themselves to the level below the animals  Maponga then appears to compare homosexuality to two dogs that are playing together, two male dogs."

Simayi, who calls himself a human rights activist, told us that when he listened to the clip, he was uncomfortable with how he [Maponga] addressed the issue of human sexuality, believing that it was demeaning to gay people. He added that, as much as we go to the same church, I do not agree with the sentiments of the sermon.

Simayi claims that after he laid the complaint he was harassed and bullied by members of the church in an attempt to convince him to withdraw the case. Simayi has refused to do so and criticised those who are more concerned about the reputation of the church than equality and justice.