JOHANNESBURG — Controversial media personality Ngizwe Mchunu has been ordered to pay a R250,000 fine and undergo compulsory sensitivity training after being found guilty of hate speech, harassment, and unfair discrimination by the Equality Court sitting at the High Court in Johannesburg.
The court challenge centers on Mchunu’s public reaction to a same-sex traditional wedding, during which one of the grooms wore full Zulu regalia, including an invono (traditional shield). Following virtual proceedings, the court ruled against the media personality, resulting in a comprehensive set of directives.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which served as the complainant in the matter, welcomed the judgment. A spokesperson for the Human Rights Commission outlined the extensive ruling, which contains approximately eight distinct orders.
“I’ll just mention six of them,” the SAHRC spokesperson stated. “One, that Mr. Mchunu must delete all those videos and publications. Two, that he must apologize and he must append that apology on his Facebook page for three months. Three, that he must undergo sensitivity training for 20 hours with the Human Rights Commission. Four, that he must pay the cost of counsel and lawyers. And then five, that he must pay R250,000 to an organization that works to promote and advocate for the rights of gays and lesbians.”
Following the ruling, Mchunu expressed his dissatisfaction with the outcome while maintaining respect for the judicial process, noting that he intends to appeal.
“I respect the court decision,” Mchunu said. “I’m still engaged with my lawyers so that we will see how we can challenge the decision of the court.”
The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) also weighed in on the verdict, emphasizing that the ruling serves as a broader lesson regarding hate crimes and gender diversity in South Africa.
“We believe as a commission [this] is an educative moment in so far as the issues of hate crime [are] concerning the country,” a spokesperson for the Commission for Gender Equality said. The spokesperson highlighted the need to educate society about various gender identities, including non-binary individuals and those who do not identify with traditional titles like Mr. and Mrs.
“As a Commission for Gender Equality, we feel that as society, as educators, [and] Chapter 9 institutions, we need to educate people for them to realize that it’s not two genders that they are accustomed to; we have got various genders in our country,” the CGE spokesperson added.
This is not the first time Mchunu has found himself on the wrong side of the law. He was previously embroiled in an intense legal and verbal battle with Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema. The dispute centered around viral public statements in which Mchunu accused Malema of protecting undocumented migrants and receiving millions in rent from foreign drug cartels. Mchunu was ultimately forced to offer an apology in that matter following a separate court order.