Land Party leader threatens legal action over Hermanus documentary

IN FOCUS: The documentary Stolen Ground: The Hermanus Story is set to be released on Friday.

Land Party leader Gcobani Ndzongana is considering legal action over a documentary about the 2018 Hermanus unrest, alleging that filmmaker Joe Emilio misled him about the production and did not disclose AfriForum’s financial involvement.

Ndzongana also alleges that AfriForum previously attempted to have him assassinated during the unrest.

The documentary, titled Stolen Ground: The Hermanus Story, is set to be released on Friday.

The short film investigates the events surrounding the Schulphoek land occupation, the alleged destruction of a protected milkwood forest and the political decisions that followed.

In a formal notice sent to producer Joe Emilio of Deep Focus Media on 20 October 2026, Ndzongana withdrew his consent to participate in the documentary and demanded that his interview, image, voice and related material not be used.

He claimed he had agreed to the interview on the understanding that Emilio would disclose any association with AfriForum, given his opposition to the organisation.

“I was coerced and lied to. Even before the interview I informed Joe about my stance on AfriForum. They are my enemy. As long as I live I will never entertain them,” Ndzongana told IOL Media.

“This is the same organisation that ordered me to be killed back in 2018. It is clear that they want to use me and this documentary to perpetuate their claims of a white genocide and land seizures in South Africa. This thing will go to Washington to be used against me. This is personal,” he said.

He confirmed he would not seek to interdict the release of the documentary but would consider his legal options.

“Let them release it. I will consider all my legal options. And I will even take the land in my own hands. I will not tolerate their bullshit,” he said.

FURIOUS: Land Party leader Gcobani Ndzongana has threatened legal action over the Hermanus documentary, claiming he was coerced and lied to by filmmaker Joe Emilio.

Another prominent Land Party member, Vanessa Swanepoel, also features in the documentary.

Ndzongana claimed she had been lured into participating in the same fashion.

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel told IOL Media: “AfriForum is merely sponsoring the production; it is not our production. So, the Land Party really does not have grounds to stand on.”

Kriel added that AfriForum did not need permission from others to sponsor productions and said Ndzongana was welcome to take the organisation to court.

The documentary revisits the 2018 unrest in Hermanus, which erupted amid a dispute over land occupation and housing in Zwelihle.

In March that year, residents occupied land in Schulphoek, while protests later escalated in July after community leader Ndzongana was arrested.

The unrest included road blockades, the burning of infrastructure and clashes with police. Several people were arrested, including Ndzongana, who faced charges of incitement and malicious damage to property.

The charges against him were later withdrawn.