South African singer Makhadzi has clarified her comments regarding the March and March movement after facing criticism from some social media users who accused her of promoting tribalism.
The 29-year-old musician came under scrutiny after claiming that a Venda man had allegedly been attacked in Gauteng for not being able to speak IsiZulu.
In a lengthy social media post, which she later deleted, Makhadzi questioned whether members of the Venda community could face similar treatment during the planned marches on June 30.
The award-winning singer later explained that she was not expressing political views but rather raising concerns that members of minority language groups could be mistaken for foreign nationals.
In a follow-up statement, Makhadzi apologised to those who were offended by her initial comments and stressed that she had no intention of making a political statement.
“My lovely South Africans, I would like to clarify that I am not a politician and I might not have expressed myself in the best way because English is sometimes a challenge for me,” she wrote.
“But I am truly sorry to anyone who was affected by my previous post. I made that post because I was concerned about many of the videos circulating online, where people seem to doubt that Tshivenda speakers are South African citizens.”
Makhadzi said she finds it troubling that some South Africans are unfamiliar with Tshivenda and may mistakenly associate the language with foreign nationals.
“You can imagine being asked for your ID in your own country simply because you look a certain way or speak a language that others are not familiar with,” she said.
The singer also expressed concern for Tshivenda-speaking South Africans living and working in Gauteng, particularly those who are not fluent in English.
“As we look ahead to June 30, I am worried about our people who work in Gauteng and can only speak Tshivenda,” she said.
“Based on some of the videos we see online, it appears that many people are not familiar with our language. When we speak Tshivenda, some assume it is a foreign language, which leads to questions about our identity and citizenship.”
She added that her concerns stem from what she believes is a lack of exposure to South Africa’s diverse languages and cultures.
“How are we going to deal with this situation on June 30? Must we carry our IDs everywhere? There are already videos online showing foreigners being confronted, and sometimes Venda or Tsonga people are also asked to prove who they are,” she said.
Concluding her statement, Makhadzi once again apologised and acknowledged that she could have communicated her concerns in a better way.
