Ugandan homophobic attacks: DA calls on President Zuma to recall Jon Qwelane

The Democratic Alliance (DA) today calls on the Zuma administration to withdraw Jon Qwelane as South Africa's ambassador to Uganda. In light of the recent vicious homophobic attacks in Uganda, South Africa needs to be able to represent our principles of human rights and respect for all to the Ugandan government.  The objective would be to encourage them to address the discrimination on the basis of sexuality that has literally been costing gay Ugandans their lives. Ambassador Qwelane is not the right person to undertake this.

Last week, the world was shocked to learn of the brutal and fatal attack on prominent Ugandan gay rights activist, David Kato. That attack came amidst a strong homophobic sentiment, in many cases backed by all levels of the Ugandan government.

While we note with approval the fact that a special task team has been formed to deal with the investigation into Mr. Kato's murder, there is still much work to be done in addressing the Ugandan government's disdain for gay people and gay rights. Part of that task must be undertaken by countries with diplomatic missions in Uganda whose responsibility it is to encourage change and reform. These changes would be in keeping with the founding human rights provisions of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).

It is with dismay then that we contemplate the fact that Ambassador Qwelane remains as our emissary to Uganda. Jon Qwelane is a notorious homophobe who has launched many verbal assaults on gay and lesbian people. Amongst other things, he has publicly stated that he would have disowned his own children if they were gay.

Our ambassadors are supposed to represent the basic provisions of our democracy and encourage their extension to the countries in which they serve if they do not exist there already. One of those provisions is the freedom of sexual orientation.

It was disappointing that the Zuma administration appointed Mr. Qwelane in the first place. However, it should now realise that, in order to prosecute for rights for all and especially to do so in a hostile environment where lives are at stake, Mr. Qwelane is entirely inappropriate. I shall be writing to President Zuma today petitioning for Mr. Qwelane's recall.

Statement issued by Stevens Mokgalapa, MP, Democratic Alliance Shadow Deputy Minister of International Relations, January 31 2011

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