“SHE FIRES BACK WITHOUT FEAR!” — EFF MP NALEDI CHIRWA BLASTS CLAIMS THAT SHE IS A ‘FOREIGNER’ FROM ZIMBABWE, MALAWI OR CONGO — PROUDLY DECLARES HER SOUTH AFRICAN ROOTS, FROM MAMELODI TO LIMPOPO, LINKING HER FAMILY HISTORY TO THE STRUGGLE ERA AND ROBBEN ISLAND — ‘I WAS HERE THEN, I AM HERE NOW!’
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Parliament Naledi Chirwa has taken a bold and emotional stand against growing accusations on social media that she is not South African.
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In a powerful statement that has since gone viral, Chirwa directly addressed those labeling her a foreigner from Zimbabwe, Malawi, or the Democratic Republic of Congo — firmly rejecting the claims and asserting her deep, generational roots in South Africa.
She described herself as part of the Chirwa lineage that set foot in South Africa as far back as the 19th century, contributing to the building of Johannesburg and working the farmlands across the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. She went further, saying her surname is engraved on the memory wall at Robben Island — symbolizing a connection to those who resisted oppression during apartheid.
Chirwa painted a deeply personal picture of her identity, explaining that her umbilical cord is buried in her grandmother’s yard in Mamelodi, grounding her spiritually and culturally in South African soil. She spoke about her Sotho roots, her family’s journey through the Free State and Vosloorus, and her late father’s heritage.
She also highlighted her maternal lineage, connecting herself to the Transkei and powerful family traditions tied to education, spirituality, and resilience. She described herself as a granddaughter of a healer who worked during apartheid alongside respected figures, reinforcing her family’s contribution to the struggle.
In her message, Chirwa made it clear that her identity is not up for debate. Her words — “I was here then, I am here now” — have sparked intense reactions online, with supporters praising her for reclaiming her narrative, while critics continue to question her background.
The debate has once again exposed the deep tensions around identity, nationality, and belonging in South Africa — where accusations of being a “foreigner” are often used as political weapons.
But Naledi Chirwa’s response leaves little room for doubt about where she stands: rooted, unapologetic, and refusing to be erased.