Ngizwe Mchunu confirms Bhinca festival cancellation, claims EFF clash
Media personality Ngizwe Mchunu has officially confirmed the cancellation of his highly anticipated Bhinca Heritage and Maskandi Festival, which was scheduled to take place in Inanda, north of Durban.
The decision follows a volatile confrontation between Mchunu’s security team and supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on the eve of the event. Mchunu alleged that the clash escalated after his security personnel identified firearms among the EFF group, prompting a member of his team to fire an AK-47 assault rifle into the air.
We cannot allow this gathering to proceed under these circumstances, as the safety of our attendees and the community remains our primary concern following the recent violence.
The incident occurred while Mchunu was inspecting the Dube Village Sports Field, the designated venue for his festival, which was set to coincide with the EFF’s provincial manifesto launch at the nearby JL Dube Stadium. The EFF had previously vowed to prevent Mchunu’s event from proceeding, claiming they had the necessary permits for the area.
Police were forced to intervene as tensions flared between the two groups, leading to reports of shots being fired and physical altercations. The EFF has since opened a case against Mchunu regarding the alleged shooting incident.