News / National
Professional beggars told to go back to Mnangagwa
6 hrs ago | Views
A Zimbabwean woman begging at a traffic light in South Africa was publicly humiliated and forcibly driven away by a group of local women who accused her of damaging South Africa's image and demanded she "go back to Zimbabwe."
The incident was captured in a viral video posted online by one of the women leading an anti-foreigner movement in Pretoria. In the footage, the unidentified Zimbabwean woman is seen with two infants, pleading for money at the roadside while the group verbally assaults her.
The South African women can be heard shouting insults, labeling her a "professional beggar," and blaming Zimbabwean migrants for bringing poverty into their country. They demanded she return home and seek help from Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
"We are sick and tired of you guys, we do not want you here. Go back to Zimbabwe and never come back," one woman yelled. "If you have a problem and you are not working, go to Mnangagwa, go back to your country. We do not want you here anymore, never set foot in this place again."
The group further claimed that Zimbabwean beggars were harming South Africa's reputation, especially among tourists. "When tourists pass here, they take pictures of you saying this is South African women when it is Zimbabwean poverty in South Africa. You cannot come and beg here when there are robots in Zimbabwe. Go and beg there," they shouted.
This group, part of a growing anti-foreigner movement in South Africa, has been known to harass foreign nationals in public spaces, including hospitals, insisting that government policies prioritize South African citizens.
South African authorities have long voiced concerns over the pressure placed on public services by Zimbabwean nationals fleeing economic hardship at home. Millions of Zimbabweans currently reside illegally in South Africa, and they are often scapegoated for high crime rates and unemployment.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between local South African communities and migrants, underscoring the challenges faced by Zimbabweans seeking refuge and livelihoods across the border.
The incident was captured in a viral video posted online by one of the women leading an anti-foreigner movement in Pretoria. In the footage, the unidentified Zimbabwean woman is seen with two infants, pleading for money at the roadside while the group verbally assaults her.
The South African women can be heard shouting insults, labeling her a "professional beggar," and blaming Zimbabwean migrants for bringing poverty into their country. They demanded she return home and seek help from Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
"We are sick and tired of you guys, we do not want you here. Go back to Zimbabwe and never come back," one woman yelled. "If you have a problem and you are not working, go to Mnangagwa, go back to your country. We do not want you here anymore, never set foot in this place again."
The group further claimed that Zimbabwean beggars were harming South Africa's reputation, especially among tourists. "When tourists pass here, they take pictures of you saying this is South African women when it is Zimbabwean poverty in South Africa. You cannot come and beg here when there are robots in Zimbabwe. Go and beg there," they shouted.
This group, part of a growing anti-foreigner movement in South Africa, has been known to harass foreign nationals in public spaces, including hospitals, insisting that government policies prioritize South African citizens.
South African authorities have long voiced concerns over the pressure placed on public services by Zimbabwean nationals fleeing economic hardship at home. Millions of Zimbabweans currently reside illegally in South Africa, and they are often scapegoated for high crime rates and unemployment.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between local South African communities and migrants, underscoring the challenges faced by Zimbabweans seeking refuge and livelihoods across the border.
Source - NewZimbabwe
