South African Tsonga People Under Attack During Anti-Immigrant Protests
The spectre of xenophobic violence has taken a devastating turn in South Africa, with citizens from the Tsonga community now being deliberately targeted and attacked by mobs during nationwide anti-immigrant protests. Disturbing reports have emerged of Tsonga-speaking South Africans being harassed, assaulted, and having their homes invaded by groups who have misidentified them as foreign nationals.
‘They Even Took My Sister Out Of A Shower Naked’
The harrowing reality of the attacks has been laid bare by victims who have shared their traumatic experiences. In a video that has since gone viral, a victim of the attacks detailed the extent of the brutality faced by the Tsonga community during the marches. The family described how their home in a specific area was invaded by the mob, who were determined to harm anyone they perceived as foreign.
“They were like, we don’t care. He’s Tonga. So they even went inside our houses, doors are broken. They even took my sister out of a shower while she was showering naked. So we are saddened because it’s also this peaceful march was not for us, South African nationals. It affected our home, our sisters, my sisters. She’s traumatized now.”
The victim made a desperate plea to the government for intervention, highlighting the immediate danger they face. The victim added that cellphones were also stolen during the house invasion, showcasing the opportunistic crime that accompanied the vigilantism.
“I plead with the president to do something about this because now where are we going to sleep? It’s no longer safe for us to sleep. Our doors are broken, gates are broken. What’s with our security as South African citizens?”
Tsonga people from South Africa are under attack by the tribalist and xenophobic zulu mob. Tsonga lives are in danger. If government does not put a stop to this deliberate and coordinated attacks, Vatsongas need to find ways to defend themselves pic.twitter.com/T9j51Q9wzq
— Thuso van Zyl
(@Thuso1Africa) June 30, 2026
Coordinated Attacks And The ‘They Must Go’ Slogan
The targeting of Tsonga people is not an isolated incident but a worrying trend linked to the anti-immigrant rhetoric that has swept the nation.
The March and March movement, which has been leading the charge against undocumented migrants, has created an environment where xenophobic vigilantism has thrived. However, the violence has now spilled over to target South African citizens who share linguistic or cultural similarities with foreign nationals.
The term “Mashangani Abahambe”, a slogan previously used to target foreign nationals, is now being turned against South African citizens . This has caused widespread fear within the Tsonga community, with many now afraid to speak their native language in public for fear of being attacked. A marcher from the Vatsonga Machangani Association of South Africa stated, “We are tired of hearing the phrase ‘Mashangani Abahambe’ in our community. I am a South African citizen, but I’m treated as a foreigner in my own country” .
The Vatsonga Machangani Association recently marched to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to demand an end to the human rights violations they are experiencing. Their memorandum highlighted that the injustices are rooted in “misidentification, ignorance, and unlawful vigilantism, which have in some instances escalated to fatal incidents” .
Government Response And A Call For Protection
The violence has prompted calls for the government to take decisive action to protect its citizens. A major general in the SAPS has had to intervene directly, telling officers that “unlawfulness cannot happen in our presence”. While the majority of the protests on June 30 were reported as mostly peaceful, there were sporadic incidents of violence and looting.
The Daily Maverick reports that while the worst-case scenario of a repeat of the July 2021 riots was avoided, “protesters intimidated and assaulted those they perceived to be foreign. They unlawfully carried traditional weapons, damaged property and went house-to-house, targeting suspected undocumented migrants”.
The attacks on the Tsonga community represent a dangerous escalation in the anti-immigrant protests sweeping South Africa. The mobs are not distinguishing between South African citizens and foreign nationals, leading to the victimisation of citizens based on their language and ethnicity. As the family of the victims so poignantly asked, the question remains: what is being done to ensure the security of all South Africans? The government faces mounting pressure to not only address immigration concerns but also to quell the tribalism and violence that are tearing communities apart.
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