Ngizwe Mchunu’s Home Torched. Pic: SC
Thokozile Mnguni
Ngizwe Mchunu did not appear in the Durban Regional Court today because his home was burnt down over the weekend, his legal team told the court.
The development emerged during proceedings in a case linked to the July 2021 unrest, where Mchunu faces charges of incitement to commit public violence.
His lawyers said he was unable to attend after his residence was torched.
The court acknowledged his absence and postponed the matter to tomorrow.
Mchunu’s case stems from the violent unrest that swept through parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng following the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma. He is accused of making statements and social media posts that allegedly encouraged or contributed to the unrest, which led to widespread looting and destruction.
He was arrested in 2021 after handing himself over to police, and the matter has since remained before the courts through several postponements and pre-trial appearances.
At this stage, the cause of the fire remains unclear. Police have not confirmed whether foul play is suspected, and no arrests have been announced in connection with the incident.