In an attack on those who doubt her, Jacinta Ngobese claims, “I dated a Nigerian and made videos about it.”
After publicly addressing criticism of her position on foreign nationals, controversial campaigner Jacinta Ngobese revealed that she had dated a Nigerian and even recorded movies about the encounter, sparking fresh debate.
Her comments arrive as tensions are rising in South Africa, a country seeing a surge in anti-immigration demonstrations and heated public discussions on foreign nationals. Ngobese has frequently been the focal point of these debates due to his association with movements demanding more immigration restrictions.
Her most recent reaction seemed to be an effort to counter the criticisms levelled against her ideas; she said that people shouldn’t exploit her history to undermine her present stance. She admitted the connection and said she had written about it before, but she emphasised that her activism stems from larger national issues and not personal experiences.
Her earlier films praising Nigerian men have reappeared, adding fuel to the fire of internet debates regarding the remarks. Some social media users have accused her of contradicting herself after these clips went viral.
Some have defended Ngobese’s right to keep her private life and politics separate, while others have said that her previous comments cast doubt on her present position, leading to a schism in thought.
Tensions surrounding immigration and national identity continue to influence public discourse, which is taking place within a backdrop of continued demonstrations and rising anti-immigrant sentiment in certain regions of the nation.