Queer groups call for Ngizwe Mchunu to apologise for anti-LGBTQIA+ remarks

October 3, 2025 1

Image credit: Ngizwe Mlando Mchunu, TikTok — Photo credit: Ngizwe Mlando Mchunu, TikTok

Queer rights organisation Trans Hope has urged radio personality, Ngizwe Mchunu, to apologise for his recent homophobic remarks against the LGBTQIA+ community.

The KwaZulu-Natal-based NGO says Mchunu’s comments incite hatred, encourage discrimination, and erode years of progress in LGBTQIA+ advocacy.

“His words amount to hate speech aimed at excluding queer people from Zulu culture and broader society, despite the clear protections guaranteed by the South African Constitution,” the organisation said.

Their statement comes as the South African Human Rights Commission confirms it is investigating multiple complaints lodged against Mchunu.

Media Statement: South African Human Rights Commission statement on alleged harassment and hate speech utterances by Mr Ngizwe Mchunu https://t.co/pbFh1uLRR6 pic.twitter.com/h4VZDpnvmR

— SAHRCommission (@SAHRCommission) October 2, 2025

Earlier this week, Mchunu blamed South Africa’s problems on gay men and urged others to discriminate against queer people.

He also told popular queer media personality, Somizi Mhlongo, to leave the country, along with what he called his ‘nation’.

His comments were allegedly sparked by images and videos of the recent traditional wedding of a queer couple, Simon Sean Nhlapo and Crosby Jodwana.

Trans Hope’s Executive Director, Sazi Jali, says Ngizwe Mchunu’s comments undermine years of advocacy by fostering hate and discrimination.

Jali warns that his remarks raise serious concerns about potential real-world violence, given his influence and the encouragement of violence by followers in the comments section.

She also reflected on her personal journey and the reasons behind her commitment to advocating for queer individuals.

“When I started my own organisation back in 2016, it was because of this thing of saying we were not able to access services, we were discriminated against systematically and all. So having it to come back and now people just vocalising it back of saying they’re just discriminating and calling off Ububane, meaning they are now taking away lives because he’s speaking of killing a massive group of people which is against the South African constitution of section 11 if I’m not mistaken. Ngizwa Mutonu and his followers need to really understand this, that there is no place of hate in South Africa.”

Yesterday, Trans Hope issued Ngizwe Mchunu a cease and desist letter over the video, demanding that he remove all offensive content from his social media accounts and related platforms within 24 hours.

The organisation is also calling for a public retraction and apology.

Executive Director Sazi Jali stressed the urgency of action, particularly as October marks Pride Month.

“…it’s really sad that it’s Pride Month, it’s South African Pride Month, not the International Pride Month because many people are confused why we have two Pride Months here in South Africa. This is what we call Pride Month and this is happening in the wrong time whereby our allies need to be with us.”