The families of newlyweds Crosby Jodwana and Simon Sean Nhlapo have spoken out powerfully against vile homophobic remarks made by former radio host Ngizwe Mchunu following the couple’s traditional wedding this past weekend.
In a formal statement, the families expressed “grave dismay” at the comments, calling them “a direct affront to the dignity, equality, and freedoms enshrined in the supreme law of this country.”
They reminded South Africans that Section 9 of the Constitution guarantees equality regardless of sexual orientation, while the Civil Union Act of 2006 gives same-sex couples full and equal recognition in law.
“The couple, presently away on their honeymoon, remains personally unshaken by such odious commentary. However, when ignorance manifests itself in the form of bigotry, it must be met with the attention, repudiation, and legal consequence it duly deserves,” the
statement read.
The families added that “the couple is engaging their legal counsel and relevant human rights institutions to ensure that due process is followed.”
They said the newlyweds remain focused on celebrating their union and thanked the “countless voices of support who continue to stand steadfast in celebrating this courageous and publicly declared love story.”
New Escalation: Traditional Attire Under Attack
In a disturbing new video, Ngizwe Mchunu escalated his attacks, urging Zulu people to block same-sex weddings where queer people wear Zulu traditional attire.
He claimed queer people had been “tolerated too much,” adding that while gay men could wear “miniskirts or skinny jeans,” Zulu culture was “off limits.”
His comments have been widely condemned as an attempt to police queer expression through culture, reinforcing the toxic narrative that queerness is “un-African.”
But for many South Africans, the wedding of Nhlapo and Jodwana, adorned in Xhosa and Zulu regalia, symbolised something much more powerful: a reminder that love is deeply African, and that queer people have always been part of its traditions.
Government, SAHRC and Civil Society Respond
Mchunu first caused a stir with several queerphobic videos earlier this week, in which he condemned to the couple’s wedding and declared that he “hates” the LGBTQIA+ community.
The Ministry in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities strongly condemned Mchunu’s remarks, calling them “deeply offensive” and “dangerous.” The Ministry has referred the matter to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for
investigation
On 2 October 2025, the SAHRC confirmed that it has received multiple complaints from the public and civil society organisations regarding Mchunu’s offensive remarks. The Commission said it is assessing the complaints in line with its Complaints Handling Procedure and will
announce the outcome in due course.
The Commission reminded the public that freedom of expression and cultural belief are not absolute rights under the Constitution. Statements that propagate hatred or cause harm are prohibited under the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act
(PEPUDA).
“The Commission calls on everyone in the country to uphold the principles enshrined in the Constitution, including human dignity, equality, and non-discrimination,” the SAHRC said.
Councillor Yongama Zigebe has also called for prosecution under the Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act, stressing that Mchunu’s viral video, viewed over one million times, has already inspired calls for violence against queer people
Queer Love as Resistance
While Mchunu’s words sought to strip queer people of dignity and belonging, the public celebration of the Nhlapo-Jodwana wedding has had the opposite effect: it has sparked renewed conversations about visibility, resilience, and the right of queer South Africans to exist fully in every cultural space.
For many, the image of two men marrying in their ancestral attire is not just personal, it is political. It is a reminder that queer love is African love, and tradition does not belong to one group alone, and that visibility itself is a form of resistance.
As the families affirmed, this is a moment not for silence but for courage. It is a call to defend queer lives, celebrate queer love, and ensure that the protections in the Constitution are more than words, they are lived realities.
Note: At MambaOnline, we believe the union of Nhlapo and Jodwana is more than a wedding. It is a declaration: that queerness is not just valid but rooted, celebrated, and unshakable, even in the face of hate.
