PEOPLE who kill and hate the LGBTIQ members hide behind religion and culture but pastors and chiefs said this has to end.
This happens as Mzansi faces a spate of killings of people from the LGBTIQ community in recent weeks.
In April alone three men were killed in circumstances that activists say amounts to hate crime.
Chief Sindile Sigcau the provincial secretary of Amadumisa Diverse United in Western said as the chiefs they are against the killing of gays and lesbians.
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He said those who hide behind culture and tradition in persecuting the LGBTIQ community should desist from these uncouth acts.
“People belong to inkosi regardless of their sexual orientation, it has been a long time people have been hiding behind the tradition. Our tradition does not advocate for the killing of other people over their sexual preferences.
"The issue of gays and lesbians is not new but people have been hiding it.
"You would see that for a long time some people would get married but never stayed in that marriage, it was sometimes because they did not have feelings in that marriage arrangement,” he said.
Early last month, a 34-year-old Siphamandla Khoza’s body was found dumped in a ditch, with a slit throat and multiple stab wounds in Ntuzuma, KwaZulu Natal earlier this month.
Another gay man Andile 'Lulu' Ntuthela (40) was found dumped in a shallow grave in Eastern Cape three weeks ago.
Lonwabo Jack was murdered on his birthday in Nyanga Cape Town two weeks ago.
In the past weeks, the LGBTI have on the streets and to Parliament demanding an end to the killings.
Mfundisi Zama Mfihlo from Abathunywa Ministers Fraternity said the LGBTIQ community has been under siege even from churches for a long time.
“We say pastors are not God, they are not there to judge people. They must preach the word of God and not attack people of a same-sex relationship.
"We have lots of gay people who go to church and it is not the for pastors to judge them,” said Mfihlo.
