‘Hate doesn't shake us': Chris Excel after reaction to Mkhwanazi's praise of controversial X account
Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has expressed gratitude towards those who helped set up a crowdfunding initiative in appreciation of his work.
However, his specific mention of the controversial X (Twitter) account, Chris Excel, hasn't been met with positivity.
The X account, which has more than 3.3 million followers, is known for trolling and making inflammatory remarks, often directed at public figures.
'I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the X user by the name of Chris Excel who came up with the initiative to raise funds in support of the work that police are doing to keep criminals at bay,' said Mkhwanazi on Wednesday.
But speaking to The Citizen, the person behind the Chris Excel account said he was pleased to be mentioned by the venerated Mkhwanazi.
'It was very exciting to hear that Lord Mkhwanazi appreciates the support shown not just by me but the entire South Africa,' Chris Excel said.
What began as a public gesture of thanks to Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, launched by @ChrisExcel, has become a gift of opportunity.
At the General's request, over R44 000 raised on @backabuddy will be donated to the SAPS Education Trust, funding the education of… https://t.co/KNxg0cKXYu — BackaBuddy NPC (@backabuddy) August 14, 2025
'Helping people has been part of this page… we help different people in different situations.'
The BackaBuddy campaign was launched on social media last month to raise money for Mkhwanazi to buy two cows as a gesture of gratitude following a widely publicised media briefing held last month by Mkhwanazi.
Somehow you had to insert negativity in something positive. I don't know you but you have a dark soul. https://t.co/PELuPlaGx7 pic.twitter.com/wsD7P0ZN9X — Prosper 𝕏 (@qhamadlula_) August 13, 2025
The campaign exceeded its R35 000 target, raising R44 000 in total. In his briefing, Mkhwanazi urged the funds to be donated to the South African Police Service Education Trust (SAPSET).
ALSO READ: Campaign raises R44k for Mkhwanazi … but it won't go to the commissioner
Chris Excel controversy
Chris Excel said the vitriol directed at the account is because 'some women hate this account because it has made it difficult to just wake up and cancel men'.
Chris Excel described the account as a shield that has defended many men who were 'falsely accused'.
'So hate doesn't shake us,' said the account holder.
For a long time, the account had used content creator Bianca Coster's photo as the profile picture, with several people assuming that it was Coster's personal opinions.
Earlier this year, Coster said she has continued to suffer the consequences of having her face used as the account's display picture.
'Why couldn't he use another picture? Why should I constantly shift and change my life to accommodate this Chris Excel person?' Coster said on TikTok.
'He could have used a plant, but he decided to use my face, knowing full well the implications.'
She added that this has not only affected her financially, but also impacted her relationships.
'When I say I've taken a hit financially, I mean it. In corporate spaces, in my work as an influencer — I constantly have to explain myself. Even in personal relationships, people will say, 'You look familiar,' or ask, 'Are you that girl from Twitter?' This thing is following me. I can't get away from it,' she added.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Bianca Coster says she continues to suffer financially and personally due to Chris Excel
Chris Excel has since altered the Coster picture, giving it a more masculine look and no longer resembling Coster.
'This page is not personifying anyone .. there over 50 who are using Bianca Coster photos and her real names. Some are selling nudes,' said Chris Excel.
X's policy on impersonation
The account holder said the polarising X page never claimed to be Coster and never claimed to be a woman in the picture.
'The reason it doesn't get suspended, the bio clearly says 'commentary account'. According to the Twitter rules, it means it's a fan account. Using Ronaldo's photo doesn't mean you're Ronaldo.'
X's policy on impersonation and deceptive identity says that a public figure's image (like Ronaldo) in your profile picture can run afoul of Twitter's impersonation rules if the account misleads others into believing it's that person.
The platform defines impersonation as using at least two elements of identity – such as the image and name or bio – to mislead.
Chrissy trending for all the right reason(s) 🤭🤭
Mbambiseni ibele 🫠@ChrisExcel102 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Vz8ngsXadr — Queen Misah (@Misah_Mdiza) August 13, 2025
Fan, parody or commentary accounts like that of Chris Excel are allowed, but must clearly state their nature in the account name and bio, as Chris Excel has. Failure to do so can result in suspension.
'The Chris Excel account it's a brand and a commentary account, not a personal account,' said Chris Excel.
However, according to the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), using someone's image on social media without consent may violate their privacy rights, as POPIA recognises a person's image as personal information; hence, Chris Excel altered Coster's image.
NOW READ: 'We are truly sorry': Open Chats Podcast issues apology to coloured community after backlash
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Contractor paid: Work to resume soon on Mzimkhulu River bridge in Port Shepstone
Contractor paid: Work to resume soon on Mzimkhulu River bridge in Port Shepstone The MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said today (Friday) that the contractor responsible for the rehabilitation of the Mzimkhulu River bridge has been paid. This is after a meeting with Provincial Treasury. 'We have received more than R800m from our budget. As pointed out a few weeks ago, as the Department of Transport, we experienced difficulties beyond our control,' added Duma. 'The National and Provincial Treasury's Basic Accounting System which is used to process payments was disrupted by the transition from the Standard Chart of Accounts (SCOA) 5 to 6. In addition, our payment system was also disrupted by the rechanneling of money to the Department of Education for the payment of teachers as governed by the National Norms and Standards for School Funding.' He added that the contractor is on site and will be moving machinery in to continue with this important assignment. 'We have agreed that the contractor must aim to finish the rehabilitation of the bridge by December 2. In our engagement with Provincial Treasury, it was agreed that our invoices from contractors will be prioritised, ' said Duma. He added that many other contractors have been paid and he apologised for the inconvenience caused to residents and the business community across all sectors. HAVE YOUR SAY Like the South Coast Herald's Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
The South African
a day ago
- The South African
Truecaller under investigation for violating THIS law
A fascinating case is underway that sees Truecaller under investigation for violating the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). For those who are unaware, Truecaller is an excellent mobile app that helps identify unknown, direct marketer and spam callers. However, as of this week, the Information Regulator confirms it has put Truecaller under investigation. Direct marketers are complaining that the Trucaller app harms their businesses by flaging their numbers and sharing their information illegally. South Africans use the Truecaller app extensively to identify unknown calls, especially from call centre agents. The technology behind it uses an AI-based system that identifies and flags unwanted calls. However, the Information Regulator now confirms that Truecaller is being accused of interfering with the running of these direct-marketing companies, reports The Citizen . 'Only upon conclusion of the investigation will we make a pronouncement. The complainant alleges that Truecaller interferes with these companies' right to privacy,' confirmed the regulator. Meanwhile, law experts say the regulator would need to see concrete data showing that businesses have been affected by the mobile app. The privacy of information act, created to uphold the privacy of citizens, might be successfully used to uphold the rights of direct marketing companies. Image: File With Truecaller under investigation in South Africa, a fascinating case will ensue. The Information Regulator has very strict guidelines for direct marketers. As such, citizens have every right not to be contacted unwillingly. Therefore, the complainants must show a direct link that Truecaller is harming their business. But there's another side to the coin, because law experts say a strong argument can be made that Truecaller is at odds with several POPIA provisions. If a call centre phones a customer, and the number comes up as spam, naturally the customer won't answer that call. Here in lies the conundrum. How does a call centre then contact a customers and prevent Truecaller from reflecting the number as spam? Another way to shield yourself from spam calls is the Direct Marketing Association's opt-out service. Image: File As such, the Information Regulator needs to strike a balance between data privacy and people's rights still to do business. However, you can also be proactive in getting rid of unwanted spam. If you want to opt out from direct marketing calls, visit The Direct Marketing Association's opt-out service. Simply register your details, and those who are members of the association will no longer contact you. Nevertheless, with Truecaller under investigation for POPIA violations, the regulator's outcome will set a precedent for other tech platforms in South Africa. The regulator has previously fined companies as much as R5 million for breaches of POPIA. If found non-compliant, Truecaller might face similar or higher fines and/or data deletion enforcements. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
South African house prices surge ahead of inflation: what it means for buyers
Property prices in South Africa are rising, with the average residential price surpassing R1.6 million for the first time and annual growth of 6.4% as of June 2025. Releasing the FNB Residential Property Barometer - August 2025, Siphamandla Mkhwanazi, a senior economist at FNB, said that for the first time in the post-pandemic era, equity values generated by sectional title properties marginally outpaced those of freestanding homes (3.8% vs 3.7%). This was as the FNB House Price Index averaged 3.7% year-on-year in July, marking a notable shift. He said the shift in buyer sentiment towards sectional title properties likely reflects evolving lifestyle preferences and affordability constraints. 'Following a relatively aggressive hiking cycle (2021 to 2023) and persistent real wage underperformance since 2021, buyers appear to be gravitating toward more compact, cost-effective housing options,' Mkhwanazi said. An overwhelming majority of South African households are currently priced out of the local property market, and this trend is worsening, according to Renier Kriek, the managing director of innovative home finance provider, Sentinel Homes, recently. He said the root causes are mainly systemic and need to be addressed by the government. In its June 2025 Property Newsletter, automotive and property data provider Lightstone reported that only one formal house exists per 3.3 families, who earn less than R26 000 per month. This accounts for more than 80% of South African households. Meanwhile, the Seeff Property Group said South Africans prefer the northern provinces of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West. It said these areas have seen good house price and rental rate appreciation. 'While these provinces offer very affordable house prices and rents, the areas also offer sought-after security estates, including those with bush and golf experiences, and luxury homes achieving prices of up to R5 million to R8 million and sometimes more.' These areas also have bustling economies in mining, agriculture, and tourism.
