Ngizwe Mchunu Issues Public Apology to Julius Malema After Defamation Court Ruling

Controversial commentator and social media personality Ngizwe Mchunu has publicly withdrawn a series of damaging allegations made against Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, issuing an unconditional apology following court intervention.

The apology comes after two court rulings delivered in May 2026 ordered Mchunu to account for remarks that were found to be defamatory and harmful to Malema’s reputation.

In a public statement released on Thursday, Mchunu said he had consulted with his legal team and now understood the seriousness and legal consequences of his comments. He acknowledged the court directives and formally apologised to Malema, adding that he would not repeat similar accusations going forward.

The withdrawn remarks included allegations that Malema had allegedly received millions from undocumented foreign nationals and drug traffickers in exchange for political protection. Mchunu also retracted claims linking the EFF president to the looting of VBS Mutual Bank and the misuse of public funds connected to Ekurhuleni projects and On Point Engineering.

Apart from the corruption allegations, Mchunu had also made several insulting personal remarks aimed at Malema. In previous public appearances and interviews, he referred to the politician using derogatory terms and made inflammatory comments challenging him to confront him in Nkandla.

One of the incidents referenced in court papers related to an interview conducted in Johannesburg on April 30, where Mchunu intensified his attacks on the opposition leader. During the interview, he described Malema in disparaging language and claimed the EFF leader belonged behind bars.

He further accused Malema of benefiting from corrupt dealings involving VBS and On Point Engineering while alleging that the politician was financially supported by undocumented foreign nationals.

The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled that the statements amounted to defamation and issued an order prohibiting Mchunu from repeating the allegations in any form, whether directly or indirectly.

As part of his compliance with the court orders, Mchunu formally retracted all statements made before and after the legal proceedings and appealed to his supporters and members of the public to respect his decision to apologise.

The matter has once again drawn public attention to the growing number of defamation disputes involving political figures and online personalities in South Africa, particularly as political rhetoric increasingly spills onto social media platforms and public broadcasts.

Malema and the EFF have not yet publicly commented on Mchunu’s latest apology and retraction.