Controversial media personality Ngizwe Mchunu is in hot water again. This time the South African Hindu Dharma Sabha has lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission against him for alleged racist remarks against Indians
Image: Instagram
The South African Hindu Dharma Sabha (SAHDS) has lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission against controversial media personality and social commentator Ngizwe Mchunu for his "rabid racist rant" targeted at Indians.
SAHDS president Ram Maharaj said the national Hindu religious and cultural organisation had been inundated with calls from concerned Indians to act effectively against Mchunu.
"In a scurrilous viral podcast featuring a Nota and Ngizwe Mchunu circulated widely on TikTok and other social media platforms, Indians were allegedly referred to as "Amakula/s". This rabid racist rant targeting Indians patently constitutes hate speech.
"The ceasing of releasing the interview or a disingenuous apology will not suffice, as it would be excessively disproportionate to the magnitude and gravity of the premeditated crime committed. Enough is enough," he said.
Amakula is a slang derivative of the term "coolie" which is a racist slur against Indians.
Maharaj called the SAHRC to approach the Equality Court to "ensure justice."
"Mchunu's vitriolic attack amounts to a prima facie case of unfair racial discrimination in terms of The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act No. 4 of 2000."
"Furthermore, Mchunu's derogatory and inflammatory word usage is tantamount to a gross violation of the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act No. 16 of 2023, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in May 2024, criminalising hate speech and hate crimes in South Africa.
"It prohibits intentional communication-including online-that shares, propagates, or advocates hatred based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and other grounds," said Maharaj.
He said Mchunu's "inflammatory, insidious, divisive and dangerous" word usage bears the potential of igniting anti-Indian sentiment and provoking racial tensions.
"Moreover, his callous and crass comments may be construed as inciting hatred and violence against Indians. Mchunu's heinous conduct manifests his intent to hurt, humiliate, and harm the Indian community."
"His prejudicial and poisonous referencing is further deeply demeaning and invasive of the inherent human dignity of members of the Indian community. The overly offensive use of the word 'Amakula/s" impairs the sense of belonging," said Maharaj.
Maharaj explained that according to Clause 1 of the Freedom Charter adopted at the Congress of the People at Kliptown on 26 June 1955, South Africa belongs to all who live in it.
"Mchunu and his ilk must note the historical fact that it was the Indians who started and contributed monumentally to the epic struggle against draconian, discriminatory laws and social injustices by founding the Natal Indian Congress on 22 August 1894.
"Our indentured ancestors toiled tirelessly in slave-like conditions and, with educational advancement as the apex of priority, nurtured future generations who turned scars into stars and contributed sterlingly to the holistic development of South Africa for the improvement of the quality of life of all citizens regardless of race, religion, colour, or creed. To distort or deny this legacy is to deny truth itself," said Maharaj.
He emphasised that the SAHDS would not allow anyone to "willy-nilly trample upon Indian sensitivities with impunity, either overtly or covertly. Intolerance cannot be tolerated."
Attempts to contact Mchunu via email, WhatsApp, and telephonic calls were unsuccessful.
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