Andile Mngxitama responds after backlash over Donovan Marx farm attack comments

MK Party MP Andile Mngxitama has defended his controversial remarks about the attack on North West farmer Donovan Marx.

However, his latest explanation appears to soften the position that sparked widespread criticism.

Mngxitama previously described the chopping off of Marx’s ears as “symbolic”. He claimed the injuries represented land thieves refusing to listen.

Meanwhile, authorities have arrested five suspects linked to the brutal farm attack. One suspect reportedly previously worked on the farm.

ANDILE MNGXITAMA DEFENDS HIS CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS

Speaking to IOL, Mngxitama addressed the criticism surrounding his comments about Marx’s injuries.

The outspoken politician insisted that people had misunderstood his original statement.

He also accused his critics of displaying “selective outrage” over violence affecting different communities.

He said: “I won’t apologise for something that they chose to take out of context. They have a selective outrage over crime in this country, and that’s what they must explain instead. Our black farmworkers are facing daily abuse, yet there’s no outrage and no justice. One white farmer is attacked, and there is this mass hysteria and the suspects are arrested within days.

Addressing his earlier remarks about Marx’s ears, Mngxitama offered further clarification.

He added: “When I said ears are symbolic for listening, I did not take away the horrible crime against the farmer, which we condemn. I meant it metaphorically that we need to listen to the cries of black farmworkers too, and the issue around land ownership, which remains unresolved”.

His explanation follows public condemnation from EFF leader Julius Malema.

Malema has previously attracted controversy over the struggle song Kill The Boer.

However, he also condemned the attack during a rally at Orlando Stadium over the weekend.

Malema insisted that the controversial chant never encouraged the literal killing of people.

He said: “Comrades, the chant, ‘Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer,’ was never meant in a literal sense. We never called for the literal killing of human beings.

“We will never call for the literal killing of human beings. The killing on the farms of our own farmers must stop. We never promote the killing of white farmers or black farmers. How can we kill the people who are feeding us?

The EFF leader also questioned the police’s handling of the investigation.

He subsequently demanded that authorities hand the arrested suspects over to his party.

He added: “Those people who have killed that farmer in Ventersdorp must be brought here to Orlando Stadium. We want to teach them a lesson because the police have failed them.”

SAHRC CONFIRMS COMPLAINTS AGAINST ANDILE MNGXITAMA

Meanwhile, the South African Human Rights Commission has confirmed receiving complaints against Mngxitama.

The complaints concern his social media post about the attack on Donovan Marx.

SAHRC Commissioner Tshepo Madlingozi confirmed the development in a statement to The South African.

He explained that the commission was reviewing the complaints under its established procedures.

Madlingozi said: “The South African Human Rights Commission confirms that it has received complaints against Mr Andile Mngxitama regarding a post on Mr Donovan Marx. The Commission is assessing the complaints in line with its Complaint Handling Procedure.

“The decision of the assessment will be communicated in due course as empowered by section 13(3)(b) of the South African Human Rights Commission Act 40 of 2013 (SAHRC Act), read with section 20 of the Equality Act, 2000”.

The commission also reminded South Africans that freedom of expression has constitutional limits.

It warned that certain statements could violate legislation protecting people against discrimination and hate speech.

The SAHRC continued: “The Commission wishes to remind members of the public that the right to freedom of expression is not absolute. The Constitution and the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act of 2000 prohibit utterances that are intended to be harmful or propagate hatred on any of the listed grounds. ”

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