Zuma's ambassadorial proposal would constitute endorsement of Ugandan death penalty bill

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned that the mooted appointment of Jon Qwelane as South African ambassador to Uganda will damage South Africa's credibility internationally as a country which promotes tolerance and human rights.

Jon Qwelane is an admitted homophobe, and his appointment could be seen as a tacit endorsement of the repressive stance Uganda is taking on homosexuality. The Ugandan government is in the process of installing the death penalty for homosexual acts, and the DA is of the opinion that the appointment of Mr. Qwelane would not take into account the serious nature of this. Instead of sending an admitted homophobe to Uganda, South Africa should be making an effort to demonstrate its disapproval of this policy.

Mr. Qwelane's deeply prejudiced views have been aired for all to see in the Sunday Sun. In one column during July 2008, for instance, he praised Robert Mugabe for his "unflinching and unapologetic stance over homosexuals"; another time, in October 2006, he wrote about how he would "condemn and disown" his own family members if they turned out to be gay (see article).

Yet at a time when South Africa ought to be lobbying along with other progressive nations for Uganda to drop their appalling proposal to impose the death penalty for homosexual acts, and to instead champion a culture of human rights, the President appears to be moving to appoint a man whose record for promoting intolerance, homophobia and prejudice in South Africa is well established and largely unparalleled.

We hope that the President will reconsider Qwelane as an Ambassadorial candidate.

Statement issued by Lindiwe Mazibuko, MP, Democratic Alliance national spokesperson, January 19 2010

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