Ngizwe Mchunu Confirms Bhinca Festival Is On Despite Cancellation Claims and EFF Clash

• Ngizwe Mchunu pushed back against claims that his Bhinca Heritage and Maskandi Festival had been cancelled
• The festival is set to take place at the Dube Village Sports Field in Inanda, Durban, the same day as the EFF's KZN manifesto launch nearby
• Mchunu accused an unnamed individual of lying about police involvement and took a pointed dig at Julius Malema

Podcaster and activist Ngizwe Mchunu came out swinging on 18 September 2026, rubbishing reports that his Bhinca Heritage and Maskandi Festival had been called off. In a video that surfaced on X, he confirmed the event would proceed as planned at Dube Village Sports Field in Inanda, Durban, the following morning, on 19 September.

Mchunu was direct about the source of the cancellation rumours, accusing an unnamed individual of fabricating a conversation with police to create the impression that the event had been shut down.

"We want to confirm that the event will continue tomorrow. That person who said they spoke with the police was speaking rubbish. He lied when he said the police said the event is cancelled. The event is legal and will continue as planned; we are not postponing anything. They should stop being bullies."

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Ngizwe Mchunu takes a dig at Julius Malema

The festival falls on the exact same day as the EFF's KwaZulu-Natal local government election manifesto launch, scheduled at the nearby JL Dube Stadium. Mchunu has maintained that his event was booked first and has received backing from local traditional leader Inkosi Mqoqi Ngcobo.

He used the moment to broaden his attack, accusing the EFF and Malema specifically of a pattern of interference that dates back to a recent workshop that was nearly derailed under similar circumstances.

"This is not the first time, they even did this at the workshop. Instead of holding Julius Malema accountable for the deaths of the women at Ekurhuleni, he is making you guys look like fools for launching a 'view once' manifesto at Inanda. That's because you guys will never ever see him here in KZN because he hates us as Bhinca people. We also do not like him."

A feud with deep roots

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The tension between the two men runs much deeper than a scheduling conflict. Their rivalry, centred on political dominance in KwaZulu-Natal and Zulu cultural identity, has spilled into the courts. Malema previously sued Mchunu for defamation after the podcaster repeatedly referred to him as a "dead snake" and accused him of receiving money from drug dealers.

Mchunu was later found in contempt of court after ignoring two High Court interdicts, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He subsequently issued a swift, unreserved public apology to avoid imprisonment.

Malema, for his part, has dismissed Mchunu as a divisive and clout-driven tribalist. Mchunu closed his video address on a unifying note, urging supporters to show up at Dube Village at 9 am, saying.

"What's important is that we are united. So come tomorrow at Dube Village tomorrow at 9 am; it will be fun."

Watch Ngizwe Mchunu's video below.

Ngizwe Mchunu attacks Julius Malema over Ekurhuleni killings

In an earlier report, Briefly News shared online Ngizwe Mchunu's remarks about Julius Malema, claiming his stance on undocumented foreign nationals in South Africa contributed to the deadly incidents in Ekurhuleni.

South Africans pushed back hard against Mchunu's comments, with many calling the attack on Malema a distraction from the real issues.

Source: Briefly News