South Africa’s Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has ignited fears of renewed xenophobic violence by delivering a speech that demanded all foreigners depart the country, employing a deeply offensive slur. The address, given at the historic Isandlwana battle site, was meant to soothe anti-migrant tensions in KwaZulu-Natal but instead amplified them with calls for migrants to “pack their bags,” even those in families with South Africans.
Speaking on Thursday to supporters commemorating the 147th anniversary of the Zulu victory over British forces, the 51-year-old monarch used the term “kwerekwere”—a pejorative for African migrants—and insisted that all such individuals must leave, regardless of their ties. He cited a hypothetical where a relative’s partner is a foreigner, stating only the child should remain, a remark met with laughter from the audience. This echoes comments made by his late father, King Goodwill Zwelithini, in 2015, which were linked to deadly xenophobic attacks and later deemed “hurtful and harmful” by human rights bodies.
The irony of King Misuzulu’s stance is noted by many, as his own mother was from Eswatini and one of his wives hails from a neighbouring country. Xenophobia remains a persistent issue in South Africa, where about 2.4 million migrants, constituting 4% of the population, often face blame for high unemployment, which stands at around 33%. This sentiment has been exploited by political groups, such as the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party led by former President Jacob Zuma, which advocates for expelling undocumented migrants.
In recent years, vigilante groups like Operation Dudula and March on March have gained traction, organizing protests and blockades against foreigners. Days before the king’s speech, an angry mob descended on Addington Primary School in Durban, falsely claiming that 90% of students were migrants’ children, forcing a lockdown and police deployment. Authorities clarified that immigrants form 37% of the school’s population, with national figures showing only 1.8% of all public school students are foreign.
Human rights experts have condemned the king’s words. Dr. Vusumusi Sibanda warned that such rhetoric encourages citizens to take the law into their own hands, while Lizette Lancaster of the Institute for Security Studies said it fuels anti-migrant sentiment and should be strongly condemned. Legal actions have followed, with the leader of March on March facing charges over the school protests, and courts ordering Operation Dudula to cease blocking access to public services for foreigners.
Additionally, King Misuzulu revived his father’s call to drop “Natal” from KwaZulu-Natal’s name, advocating for simply KwaZulu. This proposal raises concerns about Zulu nationalism and historical distortion, as the province is multicultural with 11 official languages. Critics, like cultural expert Prof Musa Xulu, argue that renaming would ignore the region’s diverse heritage and could exacerbate ethnic tensions.
With a fifth of South Africa’s population identifying as Zulu and the monarchy wielding significant influence through taxpayer-funded budgets and land trusts, the king’s comments carry weight. As he follows in his father’s footsteps, there are fears that his words could reignite violence in a politically charged environment, underscoring the delicate balance between tradition and social cohesion in the nation.
