SAHRC orders Ngizwe Mchunu to retract homophobic remarks

Zuko Komisa

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has ruled that homophobic comments made by former radio host Ngizwe Mchunu constitute prima facie hate speech under the Equality Act.
The SAHRC issued directives requiring Mchunu to immediately remove the offending content, cease further publication, and issue a public apology and retraction.
The government’s Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities welcomed the action, calling it a crucial step in defending constitutional values and warning of legal consequences if Mchunu fails to comply.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has determined that homophobic remarks made by former radio host Ngizwe Mchunu constitute a prima facie breach of South Africa’s Equality Act.

The ruling follows multiple public complaints regarding Mchunu’s viral videos targeting the LGBTQIA+ community.

The Commission’s official statement confirmed that Mchunu’s utterances qualify as hate speech and harassment under the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (2000).

On Thursday, 9 October 2025, the SAHRC issued binding directives requiring Mchunu to immediately:

Cease publishing, distributing, or promoting any further content that incites violence or discrimination against LGBTQIA+ persons.
Remove all offending content from his social media platforms within 24 hours.
Issue a public retraction and apology, acknowledging the harm caused and committing to prevent future recurrence.

The SAHRC warned that a failure to comply could result in the initiation of legal proceedings in the Equality Court.

The controversy stems from videos released by Mchunu after a traditional wedding in late September, in which he declared his “hatred” of gay people, claimed traditional attire was “meant for straight men,” and called for supporters to join him at a Johannesburg shisa nyama (KwaMai-Mai) to confront queer patrons and “take back” the space for “real Zulu men.”

Activists had raised concerns that his rhetoric posed a serious risk of violence.

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) swiftly welcomed the SAHRC’s action, calling the directives a crucial step in defending constitutional values.