JOHANNESBURG -Located on the corner of Solomon Mahlangu Avenue and Bendeman Boulevard in Pretoria East, the advert depicts a man ripping open his shirt with words such as “drugs”, “lies”,  “sex” “homosexuality”, “depression”, “divorce”, “porn” and “alcohol abuse” filtering out of him.

These words also surround the rest of the advert by the Light of the Nations church, with the main line reading: “Whom the son sets free is free indeed”.

ASA manager for the dispute resolutions unit Leon Grobler said three complaints had formally gone through processes, but there was no doubt  more would be received. The complaints would be sent to the church for comments. Once the comments were sent back the case would be further probed, he added.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender organisation OUT said the billboard strengthened the “mental ill health” of those opposed to homosexuality.

 “Homosexuality is not a disease but it is the non-acceptance of homosexuality that is a disease,” OUT director Dawie Nel said.

The Christian objection to it was also nothing new, he added.

“Just mean and small- minded.”

 Light of the Nations founding Pastor Deric Linley said the billboard merely highlighted “aspects and challenges of everyday life”.

“It was never the intention of Light of the Nations to discriminate against any group, but purely to offer a non-judgmental refuge for people dealing with issues in their personal life.

“In this non-judgmental spirit we have chosen to remove the word ‘homosexuality’ from our billboard, said Linley.