UDM responds to Ngizwe Mchunu’s anti-LGBTQIA+ rant
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is outraged and disturbed by the appalling remarks made by Ngizwe Mchunu on his TikTok platform, Ngizwe Mchunu Online, where he launched into a hate-filled tirade targeting the LGBTQIA+ community.
This was not a moment of ignorance, it was a deliberate, calculated expression of discrimination and what appears to be no less than incitement. Mr Mchunu even declared his intention to use his platform to promote prejudice, a statement as chilling as it is dangerous.
These remarks come at a time when South Africa and the global community are marking Pride Month; a period dedicated to celebrating inclusion, dignity, and equality for LGBTQIA+ people. Instead of advancing unity, Mchunu’s words attempt to drag us backwards into division and hate.
We must say this clearly: These remarks amount to prima facie hate speech. They appear to constitute incitement and an abuse of influence.
For too long, Ngizwe Mchunu has acted with impunity, a man who believes his charisma can shield him from consequences. But what he is doing now is not entertainment. It is not culture. It is not “just an opinion.” It is a threat to lives.
South Africa is gripped by a crisis of violence. Every day, LGBTQIA+ people, women, and children live with the fear of being attacked simply for existing. Every day, we bury people whose only crime was living authentically and openly. Mr Mchunu’s bigotry adds fuel to this fire. It emboldens those who already believe that difference is something to be punished.
The Constitution of our beloved country guarantees dignity, equality, and freedom for all. We will not allow hate to masquerade as free speech. We will not allow platforms to become pulpits of intolerance.
The UDM calls on:
• The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate Mr. Mchunu’s statements with the seriousness they demand.
• Law enforcement agencies to determine whether this incitement qualifies as a prosecutable offence under our hate speech and anti-discrimination laws.
• Online platforms and broadcasters to enforce community standards and take action against accounts that spread hate, violence, or discrimination.
We also call on all South Africans, artists, leaders, traditional leaders, influencers, everyday citizens to stand up. Silence is complicity. Neutrality in the face of hate is siding with the oppressor.
To the LGBTQIA+ community: You are seen. You are valued. You belong. Your existence is not up for debate. Your right to live free from fear is non-negotiable. And we, the United Democratic Movement, stand beside you without hesitation or condition.
This Pride Month, in South Africa and across the world, we recommit ourselves to building societies where diversity is celebrated, dignity is defended, and hate has no home.
Ngizwe Mchunu’s voice may be loud, but it is hollow. It echoes a past we refuse to return to. South Africa’s future is one of inclusion, of justice, of unity in diversity. The UDM will defend that future with every tool at our disposal.
