CAPE TOWN - Controversial Cape Town preacher Oscar Bougardt said the poster suggesting that he will be running for mayor in the upcoming local government elections, shared widely on social media, was a joke and people fell for it.
Bougardt became embroiled in controversy following the homophobic remarks he made a few years ago, including “homosexuality equals to crime” and “homosexuals must be prosecuted” and “jailed for their homosexual activity”.
He was later found guilty by a Cape Town court for making statements that discriminate against and incite hatred towards homosexuals in 2018.
“People can be so gullible,” Bougardt said of the poster.
“My post says that I will be contesting the October 2021 elections. It made some heads turn and at least two newspaper journalists called to find out if I will be contesting the election. Well no, it’s a joke, I have absolutely no interest in politics. People took it seriously, some even threatened me and my family. Totally stupidity,” he said.
Bougardt said he had no desire to run for mayor.
“I received a lot of calls and a lot of inboxes from people telling me it's a good idea to run. But it was just a joke; this poster, I used four years ago, and I just changed the date. People fell for it and I am quite sure they are going to fall for it in another four years.
“I don’t want to run for mayor, I will stay behind the pulpit. I am a preacher, I love the pulpit and I love working hands-on with poor communities,” he said
Bougardt said he was not “homophobic”.
“I said nothing derogatory or homophobic about anyone. Go to Facebook and read what I said on there, they have a problem because I called the Party, the Straight Party, that is their problem. They are the ones who are homophobic, and by the way I’m not homophobic because I am not scared of any homosexual. My problem is, they want me to keep quiet, they don’t want me to say anything about their lifestyle and according to my lifestyle, and according to scripture, their lifestyle is an abomination and I will keep on preaching about it.
"If I was just an ordinary citizen who was not found guilty of hate speech after I was dragged before the Equality Court by homosexuals and the Human Rights Commission they wouldn’t have bothered.
“Homosexuality according to my religious beliefs are a sin and I keep on preaching against this abomination until I am called home by God,” he said.
Cape Times