Defending The Word

Controversial pastor Lungi Magwaza invites us to her home to talk about love, her view of lesbians and what the future holds

- Zama Chutshela

SHE’S a pastor and former community radio presenter. But last year Lungi Magwaza became best known for banning lesbians from her church.

The rant, a recorded sound clip that was posted on a website, reportedly exposed the pastor chasing lesbians away, saying they “deserved to burn in hell because they were a disgrace to God”.

We’re off to meet the controversial senior pastor and founder of Kingdom Life Ministries to hear her side of the story and get a glimpse of her life.

THE impressive double-storey in one of Durban’s suburbs is simpler than we expected. But it’s also elegant, with original African portraits on the walls.

“This is a spiritual house and these portraits have meaning,” Lungi (32) explains as she ushers us inside. There are familiar faces on the wall. “That is Pastor Vusi Dube,” she says, pointing to a picture. “He’s my father in Christ. Him and I have come a long way.”

She shares her home with her husband, Fiko Magejageja Luthuli (33), and three children, Enhle (9), Yolanda (16) and Anele (21). The youngest ones are from Lungi’s previous marriage, while Anele was adopted by Lungi and Fiko.

Enhle was apparently the one who encouraged the couple to get married.

“We’d just started dating when Enhle asked him to marry me,” Lungi tells us. “That was in May 2014. I was shocked, yet excited because my children were getting along with him.”