The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) confirmed it is registering the complaints of alleged harassment and hate speech utterances by Ngizwe Mchunu and will assess them in line with the its complaints handling procedure.
This comes after a video clip of Mchunu circulated on social media in which he makes inflammatory remarks targeting the LGBTQI+ community. In the widely shared clip, the controversial former Ukhozi FM presenter is seen making derogatory comments about queer individuals and using tribal rhetoric and dehumanising language.
The commission confirmed it had received complaints from aggrieved members of the public and civil society organisations regarding the alleged offensive remarks.
“The commission wishes to remind members of the public that the rights to freedom of expression and cultural belief are not absolute. The constitution and the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair of Act prohibit utterances that are intended to be harmful or propagate hatred on any of the listed grounds.
“The commission calls on everyone in the country to uphold the principles enshrined in the constitution, including human dignity, equality and non-discrimination,” it said.
In an open letter addressed to the commission, Embrace Diversity Movement (EDM) secretary-general Mpho Buntse condemned Ngizwe’s remarks as “a direct assault on the constitutional values of equality dignity, and freedom”.
According to the EDM, Mchunu likened queer individuals to animals and suggested their identities are incompatible with some tribal and cultural identities.
The EDM believed Ngizwe’s comments violated key provisions of the constitution, which guarantees equality and protection against unfair discrimination, including that based on sexual orientation.
Buntse said by leveraging tribalism, Mchunu is fostering an environment of division and hatred which is counterproductive to the nation’s efforts toward unity and social cohesion.
The EDM requested a full investigation into Mchunu’s statements and their societal impact, as well as legal action where applicable to ensure accountability for hate speech. It also called for a public statement from the SAHRC reaffirming its commitment to protecting LGBTQI+ rights.
The commission said it would communicate the outcome of the assessment of the complaints in due course.
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