Steenhuisen pointed out in a speech on Cape Town’s annual Pride march to Green Point on Saturday that gay people in various African countries could end up in jail and in other countries could even face the death penalty.
He says Ramaphosa, who was elected president of the AU earlier this month, should use his new platform to condemn these kinds of human rights abuses.
“There has never been a better opportunity to put the challenges of the LGBTQI community on the African agenda.
Mabuza then said that the sovereignty of other African countries should be respected.
Steenhuisen called on Ramaphosa to show the world that he did not share the “backward” view of Mabuza that “human rights abuses should be looked at on the other side”.
“Make an impression in your term as chair of the AU and push for the rights of all Africans to be who they want to be, and to love whoever they want.
“We (in South Africa) have come a long way, but we are not done yet. The fight has not yet been won because people are still being prosecuted elsewhere. “
It was an absolute honour to address the crowd at #CapeTownPride this afternoon in solidarity with the City’s LGBTQIA+ community. ?️?
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) February 29, 2020
Gay rights are human rights, and it is up to us as South Africans to promote and uphold these ideals across the African continent. pic.twitter.com/g6K7YX6q3g
?? | DA Leader, @jsteenhuisen parading the streets of Cape Town for the #CapeTownPride festival. pic.twitter.com/rgwGAPlu5W
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) February 29, 2020
