Ngizwe Mchunu faces increasing scrutiny following a court ruling against him, allegations of hate speech, and a devastating arson attack on his home.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent newspapers
Controversial media personality Ngizwe Mchunu is facing mounting pressure on several fronts after suffering a legal setback against Julius Malema, drawing condemnation over remarks made on the Bhinca Nation podcast, and becoming embroiled in controversy surrounding the burning of his KwaZulu-Natal home.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Tuesday welcomed a Gauteng High Court ruling involving Malema and Mchunu, describing it as a decisive stand against “reckless lies, political misinformation and slander”.
In a statement, the EFF said the court had recognised the seriousness and urgency of allegedly defamatory statements made by Mchunu against Malema and granted an interim order restraining him from repeating the claims pending the finalisation of the matter.
The party accused Mchunu of making “outrageous allegations” during interviews in Pretoria and Johannesburg, including claims that Malema had received money from Nigerian drug dealers and was involved in criminal activities.
“These claims were amplified across social media platforms in a coordinated attempt to damage the reputation of the President of the EFF ahead of the upcoming local government elections,” the party said.
The EFF further alleged that Mchunu was exploiting public frustrations to spread xenophobic hysteria and incite hatred against African nationals.
“The court has now vindicated this position through an urgent order restraining Mchunu from continuing this campaign of defamation,” the statement read.
The party also warned that political contestation should never descend into “xenophobic propaganda, fabricated criminal allegations and the deliberate spreading of lies intended to incite hatred and confusion”.
The latest developments come amid intensifying scrutiny over inflammatory rhetoric linked to Mchunu and online podcast platforms.
On Wednesday, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation issued a strongly worded statement condemning remarks aired on the Bhinca Nation podcast by Mchunu and fellow co-hosts.
The Foundation described the comments as “racist, xenophobic, tribalistic and misogynistic”, saying the rhetoric threatens social cohesion and undermines South Africa’s constitutional democracy.
“We are especially alarmed by the use of the term ‘mkla’, a widely recognised slur targeting Indian South Africans,” the Foundation said.
“Hate speech is not merely an opinion; it causes harm and must have consequences.”
The organisation cautioned that racism and scapegoating have historically fuelled intimidation and violence in South Africa and stressed that no racial or ethnic group should be blamed for the country’s economic and social challenges.
It also called on the South African Human Rights Commission and other institutions to act more firmly against repeat offenders accused of hate speech, including through stronger sanctions, referrals to Equality Courts and tighter monitoring following previous interventions.
The Foundation further warned against the growing normalisation of inflammatory rhetoric online, saying reckless digital content can quickly spill into real-world harm in a society already grappling with unemployment, inequality and social tensions.
“South Africa cannot allow racism, xenophobia, tribalism and misogyny to be repackaged as entertainment,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Mchunu has also been dealing with fallout after his KwaZulu-Natal homestead was destroyed in a suspected arson attack.
Reports indicate that unknown men allegedly arrived at his Mbumbulu home searching for him before parts of the property were set alight. Family members reportedly escaped unharmed, although the house suffered extensive damage.
Mchunu later rejected claims circulating on social media suggesting he had staged the incident himself, describing the allegations as false and deeply hurtful to his family while urging authorities to track down those responsible.