Julius Malema Demands R1 Million and Retraction From Ngizwe Mchunu Over Bribery Allegations

Julius Malema threatens legal action against Ngizwe Mchunu. The EFF leader demands a retraction over claims of receiving R60m from drug dealers.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 4:00 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EWN

Legal Ultimatum Issued Over Defamation Claims

The legal representatives of Economic Freedom Fighters president Julius Malema have issued a formal demand to Ngizwe Mchunu following highly contentious public statements. Malema is seeking R1 million in damages and a formal retraction after Mchunu accused him of accepting illicit funds. The dispute reached a boiling point after Mchunu, a prominent media figure, alleged that the political leader was benefiting from criminal associations. According to Malema’s legal team, these claims are entirely false and were designed to cast the EFF president as a participant in serious criminal activity.

Allegations of Criminal Funding and Protection

The controversy stems from remarks Mchunu made during an anti-illegal immigration protest held in Pretoria on Tuesday. During an interview that gained significant traction online, Mchunu claimed that Malema had pocketed R60 million from Nigerian drug peddlers. He further alleged that Malema’s political defense of undocumented foreign nationals was motivated by this financial arrangement rather than policy conviction. By suggesting Malema is willing to risk his career to protect criminal interests, Mchunu has triggered a high stakes legal response centered on protecting the politician’s public image.

Strategic Timing Ahead of Local Elections

Malema’s attorneys have argued that the timing of these allegations is not coincidental but strategically aimed at the upcoming local government elections. They contend that the statements were manufactured to extract political leverage by painting the EFF leadership as corrupt in the eyes of the electorate. With the political climate in South Africa becoming increasingly polarized over immigration, the legal team asserts that Mchunu used his platform to deliberately mislead voters and damage Malema’s credibility during a sensitive campaign period.