Naledi Aphiwe apologises after comment sparks xenophobia backlash

Just weeks before she is due to take the stage in Harare, rising South African star Naledi Aphiwe has found herself at the centre of an unexpected storm.

A resurfaced social media comment, brief, casual, and posted months ago, has triggered outrage among some Zimbabwean fans, forcing the young singer to publicly address the matter ahead of her scheduled appearance at the Ama2k Festival in April.

The comment that reignited tensions

The controversy stems from a TikTok exchange with a fan, Constance Muzenda, who had warmly invited Aphiwe to perform in Zimbabwe.

Aphiwe responded in isiZulu: “Hambani niyongilinda khona,” loosely translated as “Go wait for me there.”

While some followers interpreted the remark as playful or offhand, others saw something more troubling. To certain Zimbabwean social media users, the comment felt dismissive, even xenophobic echoing painful narratives often heard in regional migration debates.

Within hours, posts calling for her cancellation began circulating. Some online users went as far as threatening to disrupt her performance in Harare.

A public apology before Harare

Rather than ignore the backlash, Aphiwe chose to respond directly.

In a statement shared on social media, she acknowledged the resurfaced comment and apologised for the hurt it caused.

“Social media never forgets,” she wrote, noting that she understood how her words may have been interpreted differently from how she intended them.

She made it clear that she harboured no disrespect toward Zimbabweans and emphasised that she would never intentionally promote hate.

“I am still young, and I’m constantly growing, learning and understanding the weight that words can carry,” she said, describing the moment as one of reflection.

Her closing message was simple: “One love.”

A sensitive regional context

This incident arrives in a region where conversations around migration and xenophobia remain deeply emotional. South Africa and Zimbabwe share longstanding social and economic ties — but also complicated tensions.

Past outbreaks of xenophobic violence in South Africa have left scars that resurface easily when public figures appear insensitive, even unintentionally.

For many Zimbabweans, words matter, especially when coming from someone about to headline a major event on their soil.

Social media reaction: divided but hopeful

Online reaction has been mixed.

Some Zimbabwean fans welcomed the apology, praising her for taking accountability instead of doubling down. Others argue that celebrities must be more mindful, particularly when their audiences cross borders.

On South African timelines, many supporters defended Aphiwe, describing the backlash as disproportionate and urging people to consider intent alongside impact.

The debate highlights a modern reality: in the age of screenshots, nothing disappears and tone is often lost in translation.

A lesson in the power of words

Perhaps the bigger story here is about growth.

Naledi Aphiwe represents a new generation of artists who build careers in real time on social media. But with that access comes responsibility. A single sentence, typed casually, can travel across countries and reopen old wounds.

Her decision to apologise before stepping onto a Zimbabwean stage suggests she understands that healing matters more than ego.

Whether fans in Harare accept the apology fully will only become clear when she performs at the Ama2k Festival. But for now, the young singer has chosen dialogue over silence and in today’s digital climate, that may count for something.