To fight the same fight that he has fought, you must be a man and not a boy because only men conquer such wars.
These are lyrics from the song that Ngizwe Mchunu sang as he left the Randburg Magistrate Court on Friday where he was found not guilty of incitement for uttering the word “Aykhale/Ziyakhala” during the 2021 July Unrest.
When addressing the media outside court, the president of AmaBhinca says the judgment has shown him that the law is for everyone and is not manipulated by some politicians.
Read more | I've spent almost a million on this case, Ngizwe Mchunu says after postponement of judgment
Speaking to Drum on Monday morning after he had what he called a long celebration, Ngizwe says he is glad that he is finally free and the inconvenient trips from KwaZulu-Natal to Joburg are now over.
What's next for the controversial public figure whose comments during the July Riots in 2021 landed him in hot water?
To lead the country as president of SA, of course, he tells Drum a few days after the incitement charges against him were dropped. He was one of the many people who protested the arrest of Jacob Zuma. The country came to an almost standstill as masses looted and burnt shops following the beleaguered former president's incarceration.
“The real war of strengthening our economy is about to start," says Ngizwe, who is one of Zuma's acolytes.
"This is a declaration of a bigger war that we are facing in this country which is poverty, and we will conquer it. I am back, I am free. They were lying about my name, and I am saying ziyakhala. People are about to witness the rise of the future leader of this country, and I won’t lead my people astray.”
The former Ukhozi FM presenter is on a type of victory tour after the court found him not guilty on Friday.
“It is still a long celebration. I can’t even imagine that I am a free man after such a long time. We left court on Friday and went to Kwa Mai Mai to buy food with my brother and sisters who have been with me since this case started. After that, we drove back home to KZN and attended the Spring White Picnic where we had so much fun. Next week we are heading to Nkandla to thank our father for his support. When other politicians didn’t want anything to do with me, he supported me.”
Read more | ‘Jacob Zuma is the father of the nation,’ says an ebullient Ngizwe after court victory
He's delighted that he has his passport back and can now travel outside the country. And even though he didn’t get his bail money back as he doesn’t have the reciept anymore, he is glad that it is over and now can focus on bigger plans. He paid R2 000 for his bail.
“I have my passport now; I must be on holiday. I am giving them that bail money because I don’t have the nonsensical slip from three years ago.”
Having the former president support him in court because it is unheard of where important people support a layman who is facing an unjust system.
“The support I get from the former president proves to me that I fought for justice, and I was arrested unlawfully like him. He dropped everything and came to support me, that means a lot to me.”
Former President Jacob Zuma told Drum that he was happy that the charges against Ngizwe had been dropped because his arrest is the reason why Ngizwe ended up in a court battle.
“I am here because this man was arrested because of me when I was arrested while I didn’t have any case. He was then charged, so I am happy. I witnessed the rule of law being presented the way it was supposed to be, and we heard the Magistrate explain his judgment and how he came to the decision. It wasn’t a rushed matter, but the truth was said in the courtroom. We are happy.”
