Amad denies firing gun in viral funeral video
· Citizen
The footage is damning. A man resembling former Joburg mayor Thapelo Amad fires seven shots into the air beside a coffin, then calmly sits next to Al Jama-ah leader Ganief Hendricks.
But Amad denies it’s him, dismissing the viral video as a smear campaign. The incident is similar to the case in which EFF leader Julius Malema was charged and convicted.
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Video showing a man resembling Amad firing shots
According to the party’s Facebook page, the alleged incident happened when senior party leaders were attending a funeral in Soweto last August.
Amad is currently serving as the party’s leader in Joburg and current MMC for community development.
When contacted for comment, he asked to see the video. Afterwards he said: “The person in the video might be looking like me, but is not me.”
Al Jama-ah spokesperson Nisa Hendricks said: “We understand that Thapelo Amad spoke to you. The party has done the same and Thapelo denied the allegations. He told you that it was a smear campaign against him.”
When asked whether they were going to investigate the matter further, Hendricks did not respond.
Pictures 1 and 2 of the video footage show a man in a leather-type jacket, with red and green flashes on the arms.
Video raises concerns
He is wearing black trousers and shoes. He also put on a black and white cap.
The man then sits next to Ganief Hendricks (picture 3). The jacket appears identical to one worn by Amad later that day at another Al Jama-ah function (picture 4).
Amad is not new to gun-related controversy. In 2023, he was criticised after he posted two images of himself on X carrying a rifle and, in the caption, he expressed his support for Hamas.
“We stand with Hamas; it stands with us. Together we are Palestine and Palestine will be free,” the post read.
As soon as he realised he was being criticised, he immediately deleted the post.
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Last year, a video went viral, allegedly showing Bitou local municipality deputy mayor Nokuzola “Noksi” Kolwapi firing shots from a pistol into the air during a traditional ceremony.
Behaviour ‘normalises lawlessness’
Political analyst Theo Neethling said a serving politician firing a gun at a public funeral exposes deeper problems in South African political culture and governance as “it normalises lawlessness, risks polarising communities, and forces parties to choose between disciplining the member or appearing to tolerate violence”.
“The incident also threatens public safety and can embolden armed actors, undermining efforts to curb crime and stabilise communities. How authorities respond will be decisive,” said Neethling.
“A prompt, transparent police investigation and impartial prosecution would affirm the rule of law and signal that no-one is above it.
“Delays or light-touch sanctions would reinforce perceptions of elite impunity and weaken trust in justice.
“Political parties, civil society and the media must demand accountability and stricter firearm enforcement to restore norms and public confidence.”
Neethling said the act reminded him of the incident where Malema was found guilty in October last year of multiple charges, including the unlawful discharge of a firearm in a built-up area and reckless endangerment.
2018 incident
This follows a 2018 incident where he fired a rifle at a rally in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape.
“Both cases highlight how leaders’ actions set civic norms, force parties to choose between discipline and protection of their brand and test public confidence in policing and the justice system,” he said.
“And we hope that the law will take its course, that charges will be laid, and that there will be justice in this case.
“It’s just a matter of time before some innocent children will be hit and killed by these stray bullets fired by these people.”
Willem Els, a criminologist from the Institute for Security Studies, said the case of Malema highlighted the dangers of this kind of behaviour.
“Remember, when you fire a gun into the air, there are good chances that innocent people in the vicinity might be hit and killed by the shots,” said Els.
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