“No homosexuality in my house, I am a pastor.” These are the words of Pastor Ben Dlamini of Belgravia, Johannesburg, a former gay man.

The 30-year-old man of the cloth said his male friend, Lethuxolo Mafunisa, was taking advantage of his generosity by breaking the ground rules he had laid down.

He said it was unacceptable that Mafunisa had a homosexual relationship even though Mafunisa, whom he called “a Christian brother”, knew the practice was “prohibited” in the house.

“I was once gay and proud of it and lived that lifestyle to the fullest,” Dlamini said. “I have turned my back on that and I am now a priest serving God only. My house serves as a church too.

“I have a congregation who knows that I am no longer gay and have given my life to God. What will my parish think when they hear that a gay couple live in my house”?

Dlamini stressed that he was not against homosexuality – as long as it didn’t happen in his house. He felt as if his home had been invaded and his peaceful Christian life disrupted.

On Wednesday night he went as far as calling the police. He asked them to evict Mafunisa and his partner, but the police left after saying the matter was personal.

But Mafunisa’s partner, Prince McPherson, said Dlamini’s outbursts were driven by jealousy

“He has been harassing my partner (Mafunisa) and barred me from the house,” McPherson said. “I don’t know when he became straight because the whole congregation is gay.”

He said Dlamini had called him derogatory names .

“We have sought legal help because he is out of control,” he said. “And he told you he is no longer gay?”

Mafunisa said: “What Dlamini says is rubbish. He is out of his mind.”