ANC mayor slams homosexuals, says 'they spread HIV and bring shame to our communities'

The Mayor of the ANC-controlled Umzinyathi District municipality, James Mthethwa, has lashed out on homosexuals in the region, saying a survey has pointed to gay men as major carriers of HIV.

Mthethwa was speaking during the launch of the Umzinyathi Community Health Work Training Project, held in Dundee in KwaZulu Natal this week, according to a report in Sowetan on Thursday.

Mthethwa told the gathering that he is against homosexuality because “it brings shame to our communities.”

“Those men (homosexuals) have unprotected sex and they also engage in sex with their female partners. This increases the risks of transmission or contracting HIV…,” said Mthethwa.

He said that, according to a survey on health issues conducted by the district municipality, the HIV prevalence rate among homosexuals in the region has reached 33%. “It is worrying because it was 22% last year.”

Umzinyathe has a 24% HIV-Aids prevalence rate with 36 755 HIV-positive patients. About 2 426 children under 15 are on ARV’s, according to a district health plan for 2014/15 on the provincial health department website.