Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities condemns hateful comments by Ngizwe Mchunu against the LGBTQIA community

The Ministry in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities strongly condemns the recent video comments made by artist Ngizwe Mchunu on social media, in which he denounced same-sex marriages and calls for all queer people to leave
South Africa. These remarks are not only deeply offensive, but also undermine the hardwon constitutional freedoms that guarantee dignity, equality and non-discrimination for all persons in our country.

South Africa’s democracy is anchored in the values of equality, human dignity and freedom.

Our Constitution is itself an intersectional document, born at the intersection of race, gender, class and culture. It promises not only formal equality but substantive equality that takes account of history, of context, and of the deep wounds of apartheid and patriarchy. 

Attacks on queer persons are, therefore, attacks on the very heart of our constitutional promise.

As government, we affirm that marriage equality is not a privilege but a constitutional right. The Civil Union Act, passed nearly two decades ago, remains a testament to South Africa’s commitment to justice and equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation.

In response to these harmful comments, the Ministry has formally referred the matter to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for investigation. The SAHRC, as a Chapter 9 institution, plays an important role in protecting and advancing human rights in our country.

We call on all sectors of society artists, faith leaders, traditional leaders, educators, politicians and community leaders to use their voices to dismantle systems of oppression, not reinforce them. Silence is complicity, and we must all refuse to be complicit in hate.

“Soft violence the words, jokes and comments that demean, exclude and incite hatred is never harmless. It is violence that corrodes dignity, that normalises discrimination, and that lays the foundation for physical violence. We condemn in the strongest
possible terms the comments made by Mr Mchunu, because they are not only reckless, they are dangerous. They endanger the lives of LGBTI persons who already live under constant threat,” said Deputy Minister Letsike.

The Ministry remains committed to all efforts that foster equality for all and building a South Africa where no one is left behind, where equality is lived in every home, school, workplace and cultural space.