SOUTH AFRICA — Social media erupted in outrage after Victoria Africa, the Patriotic Alliance’s Deputy Secretary for Women’s Affairs, posted a video calling for the deportation of several prominent Zimbabwean-born figures — musicians Shasha and Nadia Nakai and news anchor Peter Ndoro — accusing them of “taking up spaces” that should belong to South African citizens.
The clip, which rapidly went viral, saw Victoria direct sharp criticism at Zimbabweans living and working in South Africa. “We don’t want foreigners to represent us, we don’t want foreigners to speak for us. We want them gone,” she said in the video. “We are also coming for the likes of Peter Ndoro, he is a TV presenter in South Africa. Who said we cannot present our own shows in South Africa? Who said we lack such a skill?”
Her remarks were met almost immediately with a wave of condemnation from ordinary users, entertainers, commentators and online communities who branded the message as xenophobic and divisive. Many defended the right of migrants and naturalised citizens to participate fully in public life, while others pointed out the cultural and economic contributions that migrants make to South African society.
Victoria went further in the video, taking aim specifically at Zimbabwe’s cultural profile. “Zimbabweans don’t even have celebrities because all their people are in South Africa. It can be football players, they are all here, and nobody is building a league in Zimbabwe,” she said, later naming Nadia Nakai and Shasha as examples of figures she believes should “go back” and represent Zimbabwe instead of working in South African entertainment circles.
Social media users accused her of ignorance and of promoting a dangerous, exclusionary narrative. Several commentators noted that artists and professionals routinely cross borders for work, collaboration and opportunity — a phenomenon that enriches the region’s cultural landscape rather than diminishes it.
Supporters of the targeted figures and rights advocates urged calm but firm pushback. Critics argued that policing who can “represent” the nation or present on television on the basis of birthplace risks undermining constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination. Others pointed to the history of migration within the southern African region and reminded audiences that many public spaces benefit from the talents of people born elsewhere.
The backlash also highlighted tensions within national politics about identity, belonging and economic opportunity. Incendiary calls for deportations tend to attract particular scrutiny, both because of South Africa’s painful past and because of contemporary pressures such as unemployment and competition for scarce resources — factors that sometimes fuel xenophobic rhetoric.
South Africans Reject Afrophobic Calls After Victoria Africa Targets Shasha, Nadia Nakai and Peter Ndoro
Music fans and industry figures rallied in defence of Shasha and Nadia Nakai, noting that both artists have built careers through hard work and creative excellence. Supporters argued that trying to exclude talent on the basis of nationality is short-sighted and risks isolating South Africa culturally from the region and the world.
Peter Ndoro, named specifically by Victoria, was also the subject of discussion online. Observers warned that targeting media practitioners on the basis of origin sets a worrying precedent for press freedom and diversity in broadcasting. Commentators emphasised that media organisations employ presenters for their skills and appeal to audiences — not for the accident of their birthplace.
Human rights advocates used the episode to call for political leaders and party officials to refrain from incendiary language that could inflame public sentiment. Many urged political organisations to take swift disciplinary action when members cross the line into xenophobia, arguing that public office carries a responsibility to promote social cohesion rather than division.
Within hours, hashtags and posts demanding respect for migrants swelled across platforms. A common refrain asked rhetorically why public discourse should punish individuals who have contributed to South Africa’s cultural life. Others urged constructive solutions to the real socio-economic problems that drive resentment — proposing jobs programmes, skills development and policies that expand opportunities for citizens and migrants alike.
The Patriotic Alliance member’s comments also reopened conversations about the role of regional integration in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Proponents of deeper regional cooperation suggested that countries in the region benefit when people move freely to share skills, create art and strengthen economies.
As the discussion continued online, many South Africans — from grassroots activists to industry stakeholders — reiterated that diversity and inclusion are key strengths, not liabilities. For now, Victoria Africa’s remarks have put a spotlight back on the country’s ongoing struggle to reconcile economic anxieties with the need for a tolerant, rights-respecting public sphere. The viral video, and the backlash it produced, has reminded the nation that words from public figures carry weight and that civic debate must guard against the slide from critique into chauvinism.
Source- Nehandaradio
