The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in KwaZulu-Natal has slammed Ngizwe Mchunu's "tribalist" utterances for calling the province a "no-go area" for the EFF leader Julius Malema.
Image: Independent Newspapers Archives
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in KwaZulu-Natal has issued a scathing response to former Ukhozi FM personality Ngizwe Mchunu, following what the party describes as "tribalist" and "unashamed" remarks regarding its leader, Julius Malema.
In a formal statement released on Wednesday, the provincial leadership of the EFF through provincial chairperson, Mongezi Twala, condemned Mchunu for suggesting that Malema would be barred from entering KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Mchunu reportedly declared, not for the first time, KZN a "no-go area" for the EFF Commander-in-Chief, a move the party claims is an attempt to infringe on democratic freedoms.
Mchunu was part of the wide-ranging protest march by the anti-illegal immigration civic group, March and March Movement (MAM), on Wednesday through the streets of Durban.
The former radio presenter is not a member of MAM but has always shown support to its objectives and the civic group has recently had unsavoury online exchanges with the EFF due to a difference of opinion on border management and immigration.
The EFF noted that this is not an isolated incident, citing similar conduct by Mchunu during the 2024 election cycle. The party alleged these statements are timed to "influence public perception through sensationalism."
Twala pulled no punches, labeling Mchunu a "charlatan paid for by those who seek to destroy the EFF.
Twala challenged Mchunu to present any "credible evidence" for his underlying claims to the relevant authorities rather than litigating them in the "court of public opinion."
The party emphasised that South Africa remains a democratic space where political leaders must be free to engage communities without fear or exclusion.
Twala and the leadership team reiterated that the party would not be "drawn into distractions." They maintained that their focus remains on addressing South Africa's systemic issues of unemployment, inequality and poverty.
The EFF concluded by vowing to act "decisively" against threats of political violence and reaffirmed its commitment to ethical leadership and the principles of justice in the province.
Mchunu is no stranger to objectionable utterances as last year he was cautioned by the South African Human Rights Commission for his homophobic views on same-sex marriage and his rejection of the wearing of imvunulo (Zulu attire) by the members of the LGBTQI community.