Ngizwe Mchunu hits back at Penny Penny, calls him sensitive

Published 2 Apr 2026 at 9:46 AM

by Tebogo Mokwena

3 min read

Maskandi musician Ngizwe Mchunu has responded sharply to uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party MP Penny Penny
Penny Penny criticised the conduct of some of the marchers at the march protesting the installation of a Nigerian king in KuGompo City, Eastern Cape
Mchunu defended his use of a word Tsonga people deem offensive, and some South Africans were unhappy with his conduct

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Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of Current Affairs, contributed coverage of international and local social issues, including health, corruption, education, unemployment, labour, service delivery protests, and immigration in South Africa, during his seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

Ngizwe Mchunu responded sharply to Penny Penny's criticisim of the use of Shangaan — Ngizwe Mchunu's response to Penny Penny causes debate. Images: ngizweonline/ Instagram and Papa Penny Ahee/ Facebook
Source: Facebook

KWAZULU-NATAL— Netizens debated Maskandi musician Ngizwe Mchunu’s response to uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party Member of Parliament Penny Penny, criticising his use of Shangaan.

Inqubeko News Channel posted a video of Mchunu responding to Penny Penny on its @Inqubeko_news X account on 1 April 2026. Mchunu defended his use of the term shangaan. He asked why Penny Penny was a tribalist. He accused Penny Penny of tribalism. He said that in the Zulu culture, a man with a well-built stature and sturdy build is referred to as ishangane, and said the word was used with admiration. Mchunu called for all nations to unite in the country and said broken politics could not disrupt this unity.

What did Penny Penny say?

Penny Penny criticised a chant uttered by protesters, “Shangane suka endleleni,” which means “Shangaan, get out of the way”. He said the song was provocative and added that a man who was assaulted was not a Nigerian, but a Tsonga man from Giyani, Limpopo. He said the Tsonga people were not getting involved in an alleged tribal conflict between the Xhosa and the Zulus.

Penny Penny criticised the use of the Shangaan term which Ngizwe Mchunu used — Penny Penny was not happy with what Ngizwe Mchunu said. Image: Papa Penny Ahee
Source: Facebook

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South Africans respond to Mchunu

Some netizens were disappointed in Mchunu and voiced their criticism. Others linked the term Shangaan to the Ndandwe military commander and founder of the Gaza kingdom, Soshangana kaZikode.

Mr X said:

“Soshangane was a general under Shaka Zulu’s reign. He fled and moved north with his people.”

Mr_biggaLipsInPerson said:

“But he’s right. We tend to refer to people who are excessively strong as Shangaan.”

Others slammed Mchunu

Inasimud said:

“But that word ‘tribe’ is a racist term. Stop using that rubbish word!”

Zwide Ka Langa asked:

“Why don’t we just stop calling each other names?”

Gunyula Nukeri said:

“Penny Penny is correct. That song and the beliefs of some of the South Africans are the stumbling block for us to win this fight against illegal criminals. Let’s first know each other and respect each other.”

Ota Benga observed:

“Papa Penny was responding to the song that dehumanised Shangaan people and threatening violence against them by Zulu tribalists.”

Malema not welcome in KZN: Ngizwe Mchunu

In a related article, Briefly News reported that Mchunu took a jab at the Economic Freedom Fighters. He said Malema was not welcome in KwaZulu-Natal.

Mchunu accused Malema of criticising leaders, including the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. He also alleged that Malema was linked to corruption.