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South Africa bans homophobic US hate preacher from entering the country

By Will Stroude

Being one of America’s most homophobic preachers, Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Phoenix, has been banned by the country’s Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba.

The Preacher has previously spoken to his congregation about the Orlando shooting saying, “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.”

He has also called for the execution of gay people and to kill gays for an AIDs-free Christmas”.

The preacher was planning on going to South Africa this month to convert people to the Faithful World Church, but it looks like his plans won’t go ahead after was banned form entering the country by the Minister of Home Affairs, following a petition calling for his barring which attracted over 60,000 signatures.

Malusi Gigaba, the Home Affairs Minister, accused Anderson of being “unwilling to respect our constitutional protections against hatred and discrimination”.

He added: “We have a duty to prevent harm and hatred in all forms: Against the LGBTI is against any other person in a democratic state.

“Steven Anderson and members/associates of his church are prohibited from entering the Republic of South Africa. I have identified [Anderson and associates] as undesirable persons. Undesirable persons are barred from travelling to South Africa.”

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