A Cape Town preacher who has been previously found to have made hateful and harmful speech against gay and lesbian people has sparked a fresh debate following a Facebook post on his vision to run for mayor under a political party, called the “Straight Party”. Oscar Bougardt has claimed that making the city “LGBT free” would be high on the agenda.
Bougardt recently made headlines after he criticised a fellow church for allowing openly gay entertainer Marc Lottering to perform a song during a service.
‘HOMOPHOBIC’ PREACHER CAPE TOWN MAYOR VISION
Earlier this week, Oscar Bougardt’s Facebook post about running for Cape Town mayor, and subsequently making it “LGBT free”, set tongues wagging.
The outspoken preacher posted: “On 4 November 2026, your vote can make a difference. Vote Straight Party. Vote for Oscar P. Bougardt for Mayor of Cape Town.
Bougardt claimed that “when I step into the office of the mayor”, he would prioritise “reducing rates for water, electricity, and other unnecessary taxes and charges that place an unfair burden on residents”
He continued: “I will also immediately withdraw all funding for World Pride Day 2028 and redirect those funds toward priorities that matter to our communities: healthcare, law enforcement, and housing for the homeless.
“It’s time for straightforward leadership, responsible spending, and putting our communities first…..Straight Party, where everything is done straightforward. For a LGBQI + free Cape Town vote for OP Bougardt as mayor”
The post naturally ruffled feathers in the comments section, with many accusing the preacher of sharing his “homophobic” views on a public platform. However, Bougardt later stated that the post was a “hypothetical” scenario of his vision for the city if he were to take up office as Cape Town mayor.
He told Cape Argus that he was exercising his “freedom of expression”.
He said, “There is no hatred in my post; I stand by it. I offended no one.
“I’ve been doing this every year in elections and every year they call for it….I am not a politician. I am a pastor”.
HISTORY OF ANTI-GAY SPEECH
In recent months, Oscar Bougardt has made headlines over his comments condemning openly gay entertainer Marc Lottering’s song performance at a local church, and for reposting a fake news post about Springbok Damian Willemse’s “anti-Pride” stance.
Over the years, Bougardt has been cautioned against making homophobic comments on his social media platforms. However, following applications by the South African Human Rights Commission, the Equality Court has found him to have breached an order and to be in contempt of court. In 2023, he was given a five-year suspended sentence as a result.
He previously claimed that his comments “do not advocate harm, do not incite violence, and do not promote hatred against any individual or group.
“They constitute religious and theological expression concerning church doctrine and leadership, which must be distinguished from unlawful hate speech.”
