'Your citizens will still leave our country' — South African activist fires back at World Cup opposition 

A South African anti-immigration activist, Jacinta Zinhle MaNgobese Zuma, has responded to criticism and opposition directed at the country's national football team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The reaction follows calls by some Africans on social media throwing their support behind Mexico against South Africa in the tournament's opening match on Thursday, June 11.

The opposition comes amid renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks on African migrants in South Africa and recent anti-immigration protests that have sparked criticism across the continent.

Reports of hostility towards foreign nationals have led some countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, to undertake evacuation exercises for their citizens.

Reacting to the development in a social media post, Ms. MaNgobese Zuma, who is the leader of one of the anti-immigration protest groups, March and March, defended South Africa's position on illegal immigration and dismissed the backlash.

“Imagine being angry at a country because your citizens came into that country illegally and started breaking that country’s laws and when the citizens tell you to go home you get angry,” she stated.

She further argued that South Africa's World Cup qualification was achieved without the backing of critics and stressed that the country's stance on illegal immigration would not change.

“We qualified for the World Cup alone without your support and whether we win or lose we will remain South Africans who love their country. And illegal immigrants will still leave our country whether you hate us or not,” she said.