Award-winning South African singer Makhadzi, whose real name is Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona, has issued a public apology following controversy surrounding comments she made about the death of Nhlamulo Sambo, which were initially linked to unverified claims that he was killed for not being able to speak Xhosa.
The apology comes after the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape clarified the circumstances surrounding Sambo’s death, stating that he was not killed due to language differences. According to SAPS, preliminary investigations indicate that Sambo and a friend were found inside a shack belonging to a member of the local community, and the incident escalated from there, leading to his death. Authorities have since urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information as investigations continue.
Following the clarification, Makhadzi took to her social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to retract her earlier sentiments and express regret over the way her comments were interpreted and shared.
In her post, she reflected on her own experiences adapting to different languages after moving to Gauteng, highlighting the challenges of linguistic integration and the emotional sensitivity surrounding the issue. She wrote in part:
“Y is it getting here now, I came to Gauteng in 2014 it took me 2 years to understand Zulu, my lecturer would speak Zulu in a class and I had to learn cz by then I thought it was a must to know it when you are in Gauteng… I never thought not knowing Zulu is a crime in South Africa. It really pained me seeing my brother being harassed like this just because he is new in Gauteng and he does not know how to speak Zulu.”
She further expressed emotional distress over the situation, adding that she was deeply affected by Sambo’s death and concerned about rising tensions linked to language and migration debates in the country.
“I am so emotional, I am worried… Please tell us where we belong so we can go on,” she added.
The statement sparked mixed reactions across social media, with some users criticising the initial remarks as misleading, while others acknowledged her apology and called for more responsible engagement on sensitive national issues.
Makhadzi’s apology adds to growing calls from authorities and civil society for caution when discussing ongoing criminal investigations, particularly on social media platforms where misinformation can spread rapidly.
SAPS has reiterated that the investigation into Sambo’s death remains active and has encouraged the public to allow law enforcement processes to take their course without speculation.