South Africa: What is the meaning of “makwerekwere”?

Khanya traces the origin of the word “makwerekwere,” a slang for foreigners in South Africa: ” A couple of bloggers with an interest in language have asked about the the origin and meaning of the word “makwerekwere”. It is a slang word for foreigners, and especially illegal immigrants, which I used in a post about the anti-immigrant violence that has been taking place over the last couple of months

3 comments

  • Nolwazi Gumede

    White people are sort of like amakwerekwere what is up with their b.s the honest story is black child you are on your own there’s no point in brown skin people to cry about myths and untrueths question is what is real story and world end the madness

    • Johannes Bornman

      whatever

    • trapsuutjies

      When you say white people are amakwerekwere, you’re trying to say they don’t belong in South Africa. Being a Gumede, I assume you’re a Zulu. The Zulu people only settled in South Africa in 1709, nearly 60 years after white people settled in the Cape. What, then, does that make the Zulus? Amakwerekwere as well?

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