Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma Sparks Outrage with Criticism of Zimbabwean Migrants in South Africa
Viable News Team 
South African activist and March in March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has sparked controversy with her latest remarks about Zimbabwean men living in South Africa, calling them “cowards” who have abandoned their home country instead of confronting its political challenges. Her comments, made during an interview with Gagasi FM’s Siphumelele Zondi, have ignited debate over migration, entitlement, and cross-border responsibility in southern Africa.
The interview followed statements by Mduduzi Dube, a Zimbabwean man residing in South Africa, who highlighted growing tensions between local South Africans and foreign nationals. Dube cited the rise of anti-immigrant movements, including Operation Dudula, as evidence that attitudes toward foreigners have become increasingly hostile.
“Zimbabwe is not a province of South Africa,” Dube told Gagasi FM, expressing frustration that political figures and activists often exploit immigration issues to gain popularity. “Anybody who wants to go into politics and gain immediate attention must make noise about foreigners,” he said. He also pointed out that historically, South Africans and migrants coexisted peacefully until groups such as Operation Dudula emerged.
Ngobese-Zuma, however, dismissed Dube’s claims, asserting that many Zimbabweans have developed a sense of entitlement toward South Africa. “I think Zimbabweans first of all need to understand that Zimbabwe is not a province of South Africa. This entitlement they have to South Africa is sickening,” she said.
She added that South Africa’s government has inadvertently contributed to this perception by providing support that migrants may interpret as rights surpassing those of local citizens. “The more the government keeps nursing Zimbabweans and making them feel like they have rights, the more they start believing they have bigger rights than South Africans,” Ngobese-Zuma said.
Accusations of Cowardice and Entitlement
Ngobese-Zuma’s comments became more pointed as she directly criticized Zimbabwean men for fleeing their homeland rather than challenging their political leadership. “The reason we have entitled people like Dube here is because the men of Zimbabwe have become cowards. They no longer want to fight for Zimbabwe, they want to fight for South Africa,” she said.
The activist urged Zimbabweans to return home and confront President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime rather than relying on South Africa for economic refuge. “Whether there is Operation Dudula or March in March, that is none of Zimbabweans’ business. Their job is to fix their country,” Ngobese-Zuma asserted.
She lamented the growing number of Zimbabweans crossing into South Africa, arguing that migration has become a shortcut for addressing problems at home rather than confronting them directly. “Now every minute someone in Zimbabwe has a problem, the solution is to come to South Africa. What kind of solution is that? Who is staying behind in Zimbabwe? Who is fixing that country?” she asked.
A Call to Return Home
Ngobese-Zuma concluded her remarks by invoking cultural and ancestral responsibility, urging Zimbabweans to return home. “Their ancestors are calling them to go home, and we are helping them to go back,” she said, emphasizing that South Africans have done enough to accommodate Zimbabwean migrants.
Her statements have been met with a mix of support and criticism. Some commentators argue that her remarks reflect broader frustrations in South Africa regarding unemployment, resource pressure, and social cohesion, while others have condemned them as insensitive and unfairly targeting a vulnerable migrant population.
The debate highlights the complex dynamics surrounding migration in South Africa, where millions of foreign nationals from neighboring countries live and work, often amid tension and rising nationalist sentiment. As discussions around Operation Dudula and migration policies continue, the remarks by Ngobese-Zuma are likely to fuel further conversation on the responsibilities of migrants and the obligations of host nations in southern Africa.
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