The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has welcomed a ruling by the Johannesburg High Court against controversial media personality Ngizwe Mchunu.
On Friday, the Equality Court found that statements and content published by Mchunu in 2025 constituted hate speech, harassment and unfair discrimination directed at the LGBTQ community.
As part of the judgment, Mchunu was ordered to issue a public apology, contribute R250,000 to organisations that promote equality, and pay the legal costs incurred by the complainants.
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In addition to the financial penalty, the court permanently prohibited Mchunu from publishing discriminatory content targeting LGBTQ people.
The ruling also bars him from participating in demonstrations that discriminate against members of the LGBTQ community.
The judgment marks a significant legal outcome in a case centred on equality and protection from discrimination.
SAHRC Says Judgment Against Ngizwe Mchunu Affirms Constitutional Rights
The commission said the court’s decision reinforces South Africa’s constitutional principles of dignity, equality and freedom from discrimination.
SAHRC spokesperson Wisani Baloyi welcomed the outcome, saying:
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“The commission welcomes this outcome as a strong affirmation that hate speech and discriminatory conduct, particularly against vulnerable and historically marginalised communities, will not be tolerated in South Africa’s constitutional democracy.”
The commission said the ruling sends a clear message that discriminatory conduct and hate speech have no place in the country’s constitutional democracy.
