Makhadzi has issued a public apology after facing backlash over recent comments that sparked heated debate on social media.
The award-winning singer returned to X with a lengthy statement in which she clarified her intentions, insisting that she never meant to offend anyone, and that her previous post was motivated by concerns about how some South Africans are treated because of the languages they speak.
Addressing the controversy, Makhadzi explained that she may not have expressed herself clearly and acknowledged that language barriers sometimes make it difficult for her to communicate her thoughts effectively.
“My lovely South African, I would like to clarify that I am not a politician and I might not have stated my mind in a good manner because English is sometimes a problem to me. But I am really sorry for those who were affected by my previous post,” she wrote.
The Limpopo-born star said her concerns stemmed from videos circulating online in which people speaking Tshivenda are allegedly questioned about their nationality or asked to prove they are South African citizens.
According to Makhadzi, a recent video showing a Venda-speaking man being asked for identification particularly troubled her and prompted her to speak out.
“I made my previous post because I was worried about most of the videos we see online, that when you are speaking Venda mostly they get to doubt that you are a South African citizen,” she explained.
She added that she found it concerning that some people appear unfamiliar with Venda and Tsonga languages, which can sometimes lead to assumptions that speakers are foreigners.
“You can imagine in your country someone asks you for an ID because you look a certain way and your language is not familiar to others that they know,” she said.
Makhadzi also revealed that she had been worried about people travelling or working in Gauteng who primarily communicate in Tshivenda and may struggle to explain themselves in English if questioned.
The singer stressed that her comments were never intended to divide South Africans, but rather to raise awareness about cultural and linguistic misunderstandings that some communities experience.
As criticism mounted online, Makhadzi chose to apologise and acknowledge that she could have handled the matter differently.
“I am so sorry once again to all my people who were offended. We learn every day. Next time I will keep quiet until I find a good way to approach any situation,” she wrote.
Her apology has since generated mixed reactions on social media, with some supporters praising her for clarifying her stance, while others continue to debate the concerns she raised about language, identity and belonging in South Africa.
My lovely South African, I would like to clarify that iam not a politian … and I might not stated my mind in a good manner because of English sometimes is a problem to me .
But iam really sorry for those who were affected by my previous post .I made my previous post…
— Makhadzi (@MakhadziSA) June 1, 2026