PA's Kunene says he won’t apologise for comments on Stilfontein zamas zamas

JOHANNESBURG - Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy leader Kenny Kunene said he would not apologise for his recent social media posts calling for illegal miners in Stilfontein to be left to die underground.

In January, Kunene shared a controversial post on X, making a comparison to slaughtered animals, claiming that’s what his party would do to zama zamas.

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The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), requesting Kunene issue a public apology for his comments.

SAFTU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi was troubled by what he called Kunene's failure to recognise the harmful and inflammatory nature of his tweets.

"We don’t think that a mere apology will be enough. I think the Human Rights Commission must look at its instruments and apply them without any fear or favour as to what it does to a repeat offender."

However, Kunene maintained that there was no reason to apologise, asserting that he was simply fulfilling the manifesto of the PA.

"I am clear on what I stand for, and I don’t contradict myself."

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has filed a similar complaint with the SAHRC, as it believes Kunene is openly inspiring violence against illegal miners.