Zulu king alleged to have made anti-gay slurs
South Africa's government human rights agency is investigating whether the Zulu king made comments that could increase anti-homosexual sentiment in a country where gays face discrimination despite liberal laws being in place to protect them.
Johannesburg newspaper, The Times, reported that King Goodwill Zwelithini called homosexuals "rotten" during a speech. The Human Rights Commission spokesman, Vincent Moaga, said the paper stood by the story, but the king's office claimed he was mistranslated.
In a statement, the royal household said the king was expressing concern about moral decay which he believed led men to rape other men.
Mr Moaga's agency said it wanted a transcript of the speech, which was made during a weekend ceremony marking a Zulu victory over British troops.
The king, who has no governing powers in South Africa's democracy but is an influential figure on social and cultural matters, spoke in a remote rural area in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, the Zulu stronghold.
AP
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies