Sema Fonkem 01 Feb 2026

South Africa’s Zulu King, Misuzulu kaZwelithini has generated a significant controversy on himself by asking immigrants to pack their bags and leave the country.

On January 22, 2026 while addressing a crowd during the Battle of Isandlwana commemoration, King Misuzulu who was expected to speak on the issue of illegal foreigners in the province of Kwazulu-Natal failed to uphold the standards of a well respected leader and prominent figure with international recognition by using an offensive word when speaking about migrants.

During the King’s speech, the monarch now 51 years old used the word “kwerekwere”, a derogatory term used to refer to foreigners and non Zulu speaking individuals of black African decent living in South Africa.

The Battle of Isandlwana commemoration celebrates the defeat of 1800 British soldiers by 20,000 Zulu warriors during the Anglo-Zulu war 147 years ago in South Africa.

“We must now sit down and discuss this because even if my nephew’s father is a ‘kwerekwere’, the ‘kwerekwere’ must leave, only the child will remain,” the king said and laughed as his audience cheered him.

Social media is flooded with comments and conversations expressing disappointment and lost of respect for the king whom people believe should promote strong family values such as unity instead of advocating for separation of parents and children.

Many users on X and Facebook have pointed out that the King’s mother was from Eswatini (Swaziland) and that makes him half South African.

Social media users also laugh at the fact the ruler may indirectly be sending a message to one of his wives who is from Eswatini to pack up and go back home to her parents.

King Misuzulu is under hot water for use offensive language and urging that foreigners abandon their children shared with South African partners.

In 2015, the monarch’s late father King Goodwill Zwelithini also asked foreigners to pack their belonging and leave. The statement led to xenophobic violence and looting of foreign owned businesses across South Africa.

In the last 15 years, attacks on foreign nationals has been on the rise in South Africa with some individuals believing that migrants steal jobs and benefit from public health service. There has also been accusations that foreign men are taking South African women from locals through good sex and gifting with money obtained illegally.

While the monarch has the right to protect the interest of Zulu kingdom, inciting hate and violence towards black foreigners is wrong. It is expected that he should have learnt from his late father’s mistake.

Xenophobia has been well exploited by politicians and community leaders over years to maintain power and control in constituencies where foreigners make up a large proportion of the population.