The FF Plus today lodged a complaint against Andile Mngxitama, MK Party Member of Parliament, with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and Parliament’s Ethics Committee for hate speech and incitement to violence.
This follows his posts on the social media platform X in response to the American President Donald Trump’s decision to grant Afrikaners refugee status.
Mngxitama’s post reads: “I agree with Trump the land thieves must leave SA and go to the USA. Our land shall be free of colonialists. Mabahambe!”
On which one @BoerHindoe commented: “Only in a casket, Andile. Only in a casket. And I doubt your ability to arrange even that.” And then comes Mngxitama’s reply: “Plaas moord” (sic).
There can be no doubt that Mngxitama is implying that Afrikaners (and farmers), whom he labels “land thieves”, should be murdered. This is serious and blatant hate speech and incitement to commit murder by a well-known public figure.
The term “Mabahambe” – which is loosely translated as “they must go” – has recently become a customary slogan for xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Such statements by a public figure, or anyone for that manner, simply cannot be justified in a free and democratic country, much less in a country with a volatile political climate.
These statements can also not be allowed or justified as freedom of expression. The country’s murder rate and levels of violent crime are simply too high.
The FF Plus also sent a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Thoko Didiza, requesting that Mngxitama’s conduct be reviewed by Parliament’s Ethics Committee.
As a Member of Parliament, he took an oath to uphold the Constitution and such statements run counter to all constitutional principles of freedom and justice. This cannot be tolerated, especially not from Members of Parliament.
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