By Rorisang Modiba
- Makhadzi posted her apology on X after facing heavy criticism for comments she made on 1 June about the planned national shutdown.
- The singer said she is not tribalistic and did not expect her words to land the way they did, but she has not walked back her underlying concern.
Makhadzi has said sorry. The backlash came fast and she did not wait long to respond.
The award-winning singer posted an apology on X after her comments about the planned 30 June national shutdown, organised by anti-illegal immigration group March and March, drew heavy criticism online.
She had spoken out on 1 June, saying she was worried about what could happen to Tshivenda and Xitsonga-speaking South Africans during the demonstrations. Her concern came from a specific video circulating on social media, showing a Zulu-speaking man stopping a Venda-speaking man and demanding to see his identification documents.
“You can imagine in your country someone asking for your ID because you look a certain way and your language is not familiar to others,” she said.
She said she was particularly worried about Tshivenda speakers working in Gauteng who do not speak English.
“As we all look forward to 30 June, I am really worried about our people who are working in Gauteng who don’t know English and can only speak Tshivenda,” she said.
The comments drew accusations of tribalism online. Makhadzi rejected that reading.
In her apology posted on X, she said she had not expected her words to be taken the way they were. She shared a video of herself performing her song We Are One alongside the post.
“I am so sorry once again to all my people who were offended. We learn every day. Next time, I will keep quiet until I find a good way to approach any situation,” she said.
She said she will be more careful about how she handles sensitive issues going forward. She made clear she is not against the protest.
Pictured above: Singer Makhadzi
Image source: Instagram
