MK Party MP Andile Mngxitama has come under fire for linking the assault of a North West farmer to a political message about land ownership, while an analyst noted that reaction to his remarks has crossed racial lines.

“People from all race groups have condemned Mngxitama’s postings,” said Hermann Pretorius, the head of strategic communications at the South African Institute of Race Relations, in an interview with Caxton Network News.

Pretorius said the election campaign had revealed interesting differences in how political leaders were trying to attract attention. While the EFF had traditionally used theatrical tactics, he believed its leader, Julius Malema, was taking a different approach this time.

“I have a feeling that Malema is starting to get less and less focused on race,” he said.

Pretorius contrasted this with Mngxitama’s approach, suggesting that the MK Party MP’s remarks may have been an attempt to put his party back in the spotlight amid internal difficulties and Jacob Zuma’s absence from the campaign trail due to illness.

Mngxitama links attack to land ownership

Mngxitama, a former leader of the Black First Land First (BLF) movement, made the comments after Donovan Marx (50) was shot, stabbed and severely assaulted at his farm in Syferfontein, outside Ventersdorp, on Wednesday (October 28). Both his ears were severed.

In posts on X and Facebook on Saturday (October 31), Mngxitama wrote: “Attacking the ears is symbolic to denote the refusal of land thieves to listen. No land, no peace.”

He also referred to farm life as being shaped by systematic violence and wrote about black people being killed and fed to pigs.

The posts were later deleted, although screenshots continued circulating on social media.

Malema addresses farm killings

Malema also addressed the attack at an EFF rally at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday. He condemned the killing of farmers and said the controversial Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer struggle song had never been intended as a literal call to kill people.

Malema said neither white nor black farmers should be killed. He nevertheless defended the song and sang it during the rally.

Opposition calls for action

The DA and FF Plus have announced plans to approach the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) over Mngxitama’s remarks.

DA agriculture spokesperson Desiree van der Walt said the comments appeared to justify violence and should be addressed by Parliament.

FF Plus chief whip Heloïse Denner said the party would lodge complaints with the SAHRC and Parliament’s ethics committee. The party described the remarks as hate speech and called on the MK Party to distance itself from Mngxitama and take disciplinary action.

DA MP Ian Cameron also condemned the post, describing the reference to Marx’s injuries as an attempt to give torture political legitimacy. He called on the MK Party to clarify its position and explain whether disciplinary action against Mngxitama would follow.

Past remarks spark Equality Court action

Mngxitama has previously faced scrutiny over his public statements. In December 2018, while leading the BLF, he told a gathering in Potchefstroom that five white people would be killed for every black person killed. The SAHRC received complaints and subsequently instituted proceedings in the Equality Court over those remarks.

The debate over farm attacks has also reached Parliament. In July 2025, the National Assembly adopted a report on a petition calling for an investigation into attacks on farming communities. The MK Party voted against the adoption of that report. The vote concerned the specific report, rather than a general motion on farm safety.

Meanwhile, Marx’s family has asked the public to respect his privacy and dignity while he recovers. Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack and are expected to appear in the Ventersdorp and Potchefstroom magistrate’s courts tomorrow (November 3).

Complaints received

SAHRC commissioner Tshepo Mandlingozi confirmed that the commission had received complaints against Mngxitama over his post about 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, read with section 20 of the Equality Act, 2000,” Mandlingozi said.

He reminded 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 [4 of] 2000, prohibit utterances that are intended to be harmful or propagate hatred on any of the listed grounds.”

Caxton Network News asked the MK Party whether it supported Mngxitama’s remarks, whether it had engaged with him and whether disciplinary action or a public retraction was being considered.

The party had not responded by the time of publication. This story will be updated when its response is received.

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