Durbs mayor sorry for 'gays and moffie' gaffe

Published Apr 14, 2001

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Staff Reporters

Durban unicity mayor Obed Mlaba has apologised "unreservedly" for his "gays and moffies" remark about Cape Town.

A new round in the battle of the beaches - the age old rivalry between the two cities for supremacy in the tourism market - erupted this weekend after Mlaba admonished Durban citizens at a civic function for being negative and comparing themselves with Cape Town.

"We will never be Cape Town. In fact, it can stay with its moffies and gays," he said, as guests exchanged raised eyebrows.

Cape Town mayor Peter Marais countered by saying Durban was so filthy he wouldn't put a foot in it, and invited his counterpart to come to the Mother City to pick up some tips on how to improve tourism in Durban.

Now Mlaba's office has said the mayor "wishes to reassure the public that the rights of all individuals regardless of race, religion or sexual preference are protected by our new constitution".

On Saturday Mlaba said he did not know what all the hullabaloo was about.

He had not been passing judgment on anyone, but while Cape Town promoted itself as a gay city Durban wanted to position itself as an investment and tourism mecca.

There has been mixed reaction from gay organisations in Durban.

Ronald Louw, a management committee member of the Durban Gay and Lesbian Community Health Centre said Mlaba could not be compared to Robert Mugabe or Sam Nujomo - known for their hatred of gays - but people in high places had to be careful what they said.

Mike Farrell of the Fruits in Suits organisation said he was organising a petition calling on the mayor to apologise to gays and lesbians, rather than just say sorry in public.

"I have received hundreds of e-mails complaining about his comments which are very old-fashioned. People are absolutely furious. The mayor must not have been thinking when he made the remarks. This may have pushed many Durban gays back into the closet."

Farrell, a bed and breakfast owner, said he planned to market Durban as a "pink paradise" later in the year.

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