EFF to report Kunene to SAHRC for remarks on slaughter of illegal miners

Kunene

Cape Town – The EFF plans to report Kenny Kunene, MMC for Transport in Johannesburg and deputy president of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for his controversial comments about illegal miners.

Kunene, who recently made headlines for his remarks about miners who died in Stilfontein, called for harsher sentences and expressed no sympathy for those who died, suggesting they should face a gruesome fate.

“I have no sympathy for those who have died stealing the wealth of our country. They have committed a crime by entering this country illegally,” IOL quoted Kunene as saying.

He added: “After serving 40 or 50 years in prison, they must then be deported. Serious countries do not treat this matter as lightly as our government. These are serious criminals. I will not sympathise with them. In fact, I am hoping God kills all of them; they must burn underground and in hell.”

On Sunday, Kunene posted an image of butchered animals, claiming it represented the fate that illegal miners would face.

“This is the chilling fate that awaits all illegal miners robbing South Africans of their natural resources and wealth when the Patriotic Alliance takes over government. Salute,” he said on X.

The EFF condemned his statements, calling them harmful and dehumanising.

The party accused Kunene of using xenophobia for political gain.

“Kunene’s comments represent the lowest level of opportunism and are the hallmarks of sadistic and pathological commitment to dehumanisation and an infatuation with genocide,” said the EFF.

“His comments are inspired b electoral opportunism, as despite scientific and objective evidence that their rhetoric on foreign nationals does not lead to electoral success, he and his political party have committed themselves to using xenophobia as their political platform.”

The EFF also intends to approach the City of Johannesburg’s Ethics Committee and the IEC for potential sanctions against Kunene and the PA.

“Immigration is a serious and sensitive topic in South Africa, and all crime, whether it is related to immigration, violence or theft, ought to be processed through our justice system where people will be afforded a fair trial, incarcerated if found guilty and rehabilitated if possible,” said the party.

“As a former convict himself, who stole the money of the poor through fraud and ponzi schemes, Kunene does not have the moral authority to speak on what sanctions ought to be imposed for those alleged to have stolen the wealth of South Africa.

“Kenny Kunene should have the grace to appreciate the legal system of South Africa which afforded him a second chance after he stole the money of vulnerable people, otherwise under his barbaric proposals, he too would have been slaughtered, skinned and hung to dry like an animal.”

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