Lex Libertas lodges ethics complaint against Mngxitama over remarks on mutilated farmer

Lex Libertas has lodged a formal ethics complaint with Parliament’s Office of the Registrar of Members’ Interests against MP Andile Mngxitama following his public comments about the brutal attack on Ventersdorp farmer Donovan Marx. Lex Libertas is calling for an investigation, formal findings and serious disciplinary action against him.

Marx was shot, stabbed and severely assaulted during an attack in which both of his ears were cut off.

Mngxitama published a post on X identifying Marx as a ‘white farmer’, describing the cutting off of his ears as ‘symbolic’, linking the mutilation to the alleged refusal of ‘land thieves’ to listen, and adding: ‘No land no peace.’ He subsequently posted ‘Your ears are going to be cut off’ and ‘Land thieves loosing their minds! Stop killing us on farms!’ The complaint asks Parliament to consider the three posts individually and together. The intended recipient and full context of the statement about cutting off ears have not been established and should be investigated.

Lex Libertas has asked Parliament’s ethics authorities to determine whether Mngxitama breached the Code of Ethical Conduct, particularly its prohibitions on bringing Parliament into disrepute through social-media conduct, using derogatory or racist content, and inciting violence or promoting hate speech. It has also invoked members’ broader duties to uphold public trust and confidence in Parliament.

If a breach is established, Lex Libertas calls for serious sanctions under the Code:

1. suspension of Mngxitama from participating in parliamentary debates and committees for at least 30 sitting days;

2. the maximum financial penalty permitted by law;

3. consideration of demotion in parliamentary rank under Parliament’s Code of Ethical Conduct, where applicable;

4. a formal reprimand of Mngxitama;

5. a requirement that he apologise in Parliament; and

6. a requirement that he publicly withdraw his remarks.

An apology alone would not be sufficient. The Committee is therefore asked to provide reasons if it declines to recommend substantial sanctions.

Lex Libertas emphasised that the complaint does not allege that Marx’s attackers acted from political or racial motives. The complaint concerns Mngxitama’s own decision, as a sitting Member of Parliament, to attach racial and political meaning to an act of extreme violence.

‘Parliament cannot simply acknowledge that these remarks are offensive,’ said Dr Ernst Alex Roets, Executive Director of Lex Libertas. ‘Parliament must investigate them properly, determine whether its own ethical rules were breached and, if so, ensure consequences that demonstrate that threats and incitement to violence by elected representatives are taken seriously.’

According to Lex Libertas, these recurring problems point to a deeper structural failure in South Africa’s highly centralised political order.

‘Communities should not remain indefinitely dependent on distant institutions that repeatedly fail to address their concerns,’ Roets said. ‘South Africa needs greater decentralisation and self-governance so that communities can take more responsibility for their own safety, local affairs and future.’

The complaint forms part of the second phase of the White Cross Project, through which Lex Libertas will continue to press for accountability while advancing practical solutions based on decentralisation and self-governance.