WATCH: SA man kicked out of Australia over neo-Nazi protest returns with wife and child

Matthew Gruter arrived in South Africa with his small family after he was booted out of Australia for attending an anti-Jewish rally in Sydney.

Gruter, a civil engineer, landed at the OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday afternoon in the company of his wife, Nathalie Faydherbe and one-month-old child.

Gruter, who initially tried to hide his face behind the luggage, became visibly upset when confronted by the media. He had a heated exchange with one of the photographers and almost attacked him.

Even though he answered a few questions, Gruter claimed that the media were endangering his life and that of his family. 

"Are you trying to get us attacked and murdered in South Africa? Is that what you are trying to do, trying to label us?" he asked.

When asked to comment about his removal in Australia, Gruter said murderers and rapists get to stay, and he was kicked out just for standing.

"I got detained for six hours and had my visa cancelled by the minister himself...I just stood there over some nonsense. What do you think, do you think it's fair?" he asked again.

Gruter was one of 60 dark-clothed men -- some hiding their faces with sunglasses or hats -- who protested outside the New South Wales parliament, shouting Nazi slogans and unfurled a large banner that read 'Abolish the Jewish Lobby'.

According to the Daily Mail, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed on November 17 that he had cancelled Gruter's work visa in light of the protest.

It was reported that the Minister defended the decision on the basis that Gruter did not reflect Australian values. 

''We've got a really strong principle here: If you're on a visa, you're a guest in Australia. If someone turns up for the purposes of just abusing people and wrecking the place and damaging the cohesion, you can ask them to leave," Burke was quoted as saying.

"The bottom line here is we're setting the standard for Australia. We're setting the standard that multicultural Australia and modern Australia are the same thing," Burke further said.

Australia's intelligence services have warned that growing numbers of people are being drawn towards neo-Nazi ideologies as extremist groups step up efforts to recruit new members.

Australia banned the Nazi salute and the display or trade of Nazi symbols last year. 

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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