In a series of events that reads more like a dystopian thriller than a real-life news story, South African comedian Anton Taylor found himself at the centre of a full-blown "Crimes Against The State" investigation, all because of a satirical video he posted on TikTok.
What began as a joke, posted to his followers in June, ended with Taylor’s Cape Town home swarmed by Hawks officials in a dramatic afternoon raid – all while he was overseas visiting family in the United States.
A Raid Over a TikTok Skit
Taylor recalled waking up in the US to 10 missed calls from his building manager and security in Cape Town.
“From my understanding and what the CCTV footage revealed, the police came in two or three vans. There were two Hawks officials, assisted by several police. I’m not sure why there was a need for so many policemen to walk about my house. There was absolutely no indication that I was a threat,” he said.
“I think Osama bin Laden had about six people to take [him] down, so I don’t know why the Hawks needed nine to 11 officers to seize my cellphone.”
Indeed, Hawks officers, led by Captain Solomon Moloto, not only raided his apartment but had obtained a triangulation report to track the exact location from which Taylor had posted the video – a step typically reserved for suspects in violent crimes like murder.
Despite the dramatic show of force, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) later declined to prosecute Taylor for any offence under the Cybercrimes Act, citing “a lack of reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution.”
The satirical video, which Taylor insists was a parody, depicted him as a fictional foreign crime boss bragging about bribing suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu with “a BMW and three prostitutes” to sabotage KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The content, while clearly comedic to most viewers, did not amuse Mchunu, who laid a criminal complaint that set off a full-scale law enforcement response.
Mchunu’s Complaint – Hurt and Humiliation
Suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu, however, stood firm in his position, maintaining that his decision to lodge the complaint was not an abuse of power.
“That thing I found extremely, extremely hurting and damaging,” Mchunu told News24. “Once a person says you are involved with prostitutes, it resonates because you are a male, and then these things happen. Males are known to be doing these things, and then a BMW… This person was dealing with my name, I’m telling you.”
Mchunu was placed on special leave earlier this year by President Cyril Ramaphosa after he was implicated by Mkhwanazi in the alleged criminal infiltration of the country’s justice system.
In the TikTok video that triggered the investigation ,Taylor was pretending to be a "foreign criminal in South Africa" who had bribed then-police minister Senzo Mchunu. In the skit, Taylor’s fictional character brags about his illegal enterprises, including drug dealing and hijackings, and laments the efforts of KwaZulu-Natal police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who he claims is undermining his illicit businesses. Taylor, portraying a gleeful drug lord, celebrates reports of a complaint lodged with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) against Mkhwanazi. That complaint was later revealed to have not come from Mchunu himself, but rather an anonymous source – a fact that casts even more absurdity on the investigation.
“Guys, we are catching Mkhwanazi. We did it. I’m so happy, guys,” the fictional criminal exclaims in the video. “It’s like Christmas or the day my divorce comes through with my third wife, that bitch.”
Later in the same video, he laments how the commissioner’s anti-crime initiatives are hurting his business: “I’m not going to Mauritius for the holidays, I’m going to Gordon’s Bay and I’m not getting these high-class escorts anymore, I must buy the prostitutes from the Kenilworth.”
It was the following lines, though, that appeared to cross the line for Mchunu: “Recently, my guy Senzo Mchunu, the head of police, he’s finally saying he’s coming for Mkhwanazi… I had to pay Mchunu a lot of money, and I’m giving them a BMW, and I’m paying for the three prostitutes…”
Mchunu told News24 that if he didn’t act, “that would count against me.” He said he genuinely feared the public might believe the allegations.
“He’s coming for the politicians, so I convinced them, you must be very scared. I’m celebrating because it’s so obvious that Mkhwanazi comes for the criminals and the politicians, and now they’re investigating him,” the video continues.
A ‘Crimes Against the State’ Case File
Perhaps most baffling in the entire affair is the way the police categorised the case. The file against Taylor bore the initials “C.A.T.S.” – a designation normally reserved for “Crimes Against The State,” which includes offences like sedition or treason.
To date, News24 has been unable to determine why a satirical video was classified alongside South Africa’s gravest national security concerns.
Moloto, the Hawks officer in charge, justified the investigation by stating that Mchunu found the video “outrageous, outlandish, insulting, and humiliating”. He argued that Taylor’s video was “malicious communication” which could incite damage to property or threaten an individual.
Exactly how authorities concluded that Taylor’s parody met this standard remains unclear.
When Taylor finally returned to South Africa, he reported to the Hawks’ Bellville office, accompanied by attorney Halton Cheadle and advocate Ben Prinsloo. There, the officers asked him to rewatch the offending TikTok video with them – an experience he described as surreal.
“All of a sudden, the penny dropped, and I just lost all my fear. I was like: Are you serious?” Taylor said.
Despite their visible discomfort, the officers insisted he hand over his phone and SIM code. He complied in an effort to show cooperation, though he needed the phone for his work as a digital content creator.
Two weeks later, his phone was returned. Several more passed before the NPA ultimately decided not to proceed with charges.
‘A Dictator State’ and the Limits of Free Speech
Reflecting on the ordeal, Taylor expressed deep concern over how easily power could be wielded to disrupt someone’s life over satire.
“I felt like I was in a kind of dictator state, where you criticise someone powerful and they don’t like it and then they send the Hawks after you… It honestly seems to be a significant abuse of power, particularly in a country where we have such clearly defined rights to freedom of expression,” he said.
“What concerns me is that I had the resources to seek legal help and to ensure that I was not forced into an unjust and unjustified trial. I know that’s not going to be the case for most people in this country, though. And that is a big worry.”
Taylor’s case raises important questions about the boundaries of satire, the responsiveness of law enforcement, and the state’s tolerance for criticism – even when it’s couched in humour.
Mchunu Responds to NPA’s Decision
In a formal response to the NPA’s decision, Mchunu stated he “fully” respected the outcome.
“This is a demonstration of the independence of our institutions and the checks and balances that underpin them,” the suspended minister said.
He also emphasised that he did not influence the course of the investigation: “Once a complaint is opened, operational decisions rest entirely with the relevant authorities, who act within their mandates and independently of political office bearers.”
Yet, Taylor recalled Hawks Captain Moloto telling him explicitly: “I had insulted the police minister, and he couldn’t let it slide.”
A Case That Sparked Debate
Whether or not Mchunu overreacted, the case has undoubtedly sparked broader discussion about freedom of speech, state overreach, and the power dynamics between citizens and those in office.
In the end, no charges were laid, and Taylor walked away legally unscathed — but the chilling effect remains. For a country that prides itself on its vibrant democracy and robust civil liberties, the ordeal serves as a cautionary tale: satire may be protected, but not everyone takes a joke the same way.
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