South Africans are loving how Ongie Gusha, a Johannesburg-based content producer, has turned Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi’s infamous testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief into pure comedy gold during a week that has already been filled with high-stakes drama.
On December 5, Gusha, who is known for her hilarious TikTok sketches under the handle @ongiegusha, released a hilarious video that has since received thousands of likes, shares, and views on social media. Gusha flawlessly captures Mkhwanazi’s nervous demeanor while sporting a well-groomed mustache, fake sweat drops on her brow, and a chic tie. In a nod to the brigadier’s well-known propensity for chugging water mid-testimony, she begins a fake inquiry while surrounded by a plethora of water bottles, tripping over answers concerning the contentious tenderpreneur Vusimuzi Cat Matlala and the numerous charges surrounding the operations of EMPD.
The play centers around Mkhwanazi’s anxiety during his earlier appearance this month before the Madlanga Commission, where the once-feared police officer was questioned about charges of corruption, illegal vehicle registrations for Matlala’s fleet (including illegal blue lights), and even his involvement in concealing the torture murder of a suspect. Mkhwanazi was accused of directing body disposals and taking kickbacks by witnesses, including the late Marius van der Merwe, also known as Witness D, who was killed outside his home shortly after giving his testimony. Mkhwanazi’s denials fell into concessions under the commission’s glare, and he drank water and wiped sweat as if it were going out of style – events that soon became meme fodder throughout the country.
Gusha’s depiction increases the absurdity: I didn’t do it! Hold on, maybe not. Give me the water! She stumbles through a gruff impression, evading fictitious proof while inadvertently divulging facts that reflect the actual backpedaling. With a theatrical sigh, she concedes Matlala’s blue-light privileges in one notable passage: Okay, fine, but only because he promised to buy me a tie!
The video went viral on users’ For You pages. Pages, which received an overwhelming number of humorous emojis, fire responses, and remarks such as This is SPOT ON – I can hear the gulps! and Mkhwanazi watching this from suspension: sweating more than in court. The area was transformed into an improvised comedy club by the thousands of people who crowded in. One spectator joked that someone had finally stated what we were all thinking, and another suggested that Ongie should be the commission chair because she could obtain answers without the waterworks.
Mkhwanazi confessed to assisting Matlala’s gifts to the EMPD and being present during a deadly interrogation scenario in his testimony, which concluded last week. These disclosures have intensified the investigation into the suspected network of corruption in Ekurhuleni. However, in the midst of all the seriousness, Gusha’s act provides a much-needed chuckle, reminding viewers that South African humor is still indestructible even in the face of controversy.
Expect more viral takes as the Madlanga Commission moves forward. Ongie Gusha’s fascinating testimony serves as evidence that paying attention to the specifics literally is sometimes the best approach to nail a tale. On TikTok, @ongiegusha, see the entire sketch.
