Comedian and TikTok star Anton Taylor has alleged that the Hawks, South Africa’s specialised police unit, raided his home earlier this year.
Hawks allegedly raid Anton Taylor’s home
According to Taylor, the officers carried an affidavit that accused him of “crimes against the state, i.e. terrorism.”
The raid came after Taylor posted a satirical TikTok video on 29 March 2025. In the clip, he jokingly played a criminal who claimed to have bribed then-suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu with “a BMW and three prostitutes.”
Mchunu, who was suspended from his position as Police Minister at the time, said the video was “extremely cruel” and “insulting.” Believing Taylor to be a journalist rather than a comedian, Mchunu opened criminal charges against him.
Taylor said his phone, believed to have been used to record or post the TikTok, was confiscated during the raid, which took place in June 2025. At the time, Taylor was in the United States visiting family.
“It was shocking. I’m a law-abiding person, so I was completely baffled and quite frightened by why this was happening,” Taylor explained in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
What the law says: crimes against the state and terrorism
The affidavit Taylor claims was shown to him used the term “crimes against the state, i.e. terrorism.” In simple terms, this is a very serious charge normally reserved for people accused of violent acts or threats against a government.
In this case, however, the accusations arose from a comedy skit on social media.
If proven, terrorism charges can carry extremely heavy penalties, including long prison terms. This is why Taylor has described the situation as both “frightening” and “confusing.”
While Mchunu took legal action against Anton Taylor, the former minister himself is now facing scrutiny. According to the Democratic Alliance (DA), the South African Police Service has opened a criminal investigation into Mchunu.
Baxolile Nodada, the DA’s deputy chief whip, said the charges relate to Mchunu allegedly lying to Parliament about his ties to businessman Brown Mogotsi. The DA says Mchunu’s actions may have breached parliamentary rules and laws, including fraud and misleading the legislature.
“The seriousness with which the SAPS are treating the case of their former Minister shows that nobody is above the law,” Nodada said.
So far, there has been no official confirmation that Mchunu directly ordered the Hawks’ involvement.
For now, Taylor says he will continue to challenge the matter and hopes to clear his name. Meanwhile, Mchunu’s own legal troubles may determine how much influence he still holds.
