As South Africa reels from weeks of deadly anti-migrant violence, a video of a South African woman spewing hate speech against African foreigners has gone viral, sparking widespread condemnation.
“I hate foreigners. I hate kigamba. I hate Kwerekwere, I hate Zai Zai. I don’t like foreigners. Foreigners must go to their country,” she said in the clip.
South African woman declares she's xenophobic
She also called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to remove all Black foreigners from the country, declaring, “I am xenophobic. I hate times and times. I don’t know how many times. I hate foreigners. Ramaphosa, take these foreigners out.”
Context and Irony
The terms she used — “kigamba” (often referring to East Africans), “Kwerekwere” (a derogatory term for West, Central, and Southern African migrants), and “Zai Zai” (a term used for Black foreigners in general) — have become common slurs in South Africa’s xenophobic lexicon.
However, her comments have drawn sharp criticism online for the glaring irony: while Black African migrants are being attacked and forced to flee, white foreigners — many of European descent — control approximately 80% of South Africa’s economy, according to recent data.
“She’s angry at a Zimbabwean selling vegetables, but says nothing about white foreigners owning mines,” one user commented.
Crisis Deepens
The video emerged as several African nations evacuated citizens from South Africa over xenophobic violence. A mass protest is planned for June 30.
President Ramaphosa has condemned the violence, but critics argue his government has failed to address the root causes of xenophobia or hold perpetrators accountable.
The woman’s remarks have further fuelled outrage, with many calling for legal consequences for hate speech, while others point to the systemic racism that allows anti-Black sentiment to flourish even as white economic dominance remains unchallenged.
