Penuel speaks on illegal foreigners in SA
Popular podcaster Penuel Mlotshwa has once again sparked intense debate online after sharing his views on illegal foreigners living in South Africa.
The outspoken commentator posted a lengthy message on X (formerly Twitter), where he openly stated that he sympathises with undocumented immigrants, a stance that quickly drew widespread attention and reactions.
Mlotshwa acknowledged that his position makes him a controversial voice in the ongoing conversation, admitting that he does not see himself as an unbiased representative of frustrated South Africans.
According to him, his personal experiences have shaped his perspective.
“When it comes to illegal foreigners in South Africa, I’m compromised. I am honestly not a fair voice for ordinary South Africans who are upset and directly affected by them,” he wrote.
“I genuinely admire a lot of them who came here to hustle a better life for themselves. They do the dirtiest jobs that pay the worst wages.”
The podcaster explained that his sympathy stems from the belief that many immigrants are victims of circumstances beyond their control, including colonial borders and poor governance in their home countries.
“I sympathise with them because they didn’t choose to be born in their home countries. They didn’t choose the colonial borders,” he added.
Mlotshwa further revealed that he frequently interacts with undocumented immigrants, noting that many of them are fans of his content.
He said these interactions often lead to deeper conversations about leadership failures across the continent.
“A lot of them are fans of my videos and posts. I meet them daily, and we chat about the corruption of African leaders and the fights amongst Africans due to poor leadership,” he shared.
While defending immigrants, Mlotshwa made it clear that he does not excuse criminal behaviour. He stressed that his support does not extend to those involved in serious crimes.
“A lot of them are genuinely good people and don’t commit serious crimes. I hate those who rape, kill, steal, traffic and sell drugs,” he said.
He also pointed out what he described as hypocrisy among some South Africans, arguing that many benefit from the same immigrants they publicly condemn.
“I also note the hypocrisy of many SAns who buy from them, hire them, rent to them, and have relationships with them,” Mlotshwa wrote, adding that he sees parallels between foreign nationals seeking opportunities and South Africans who migrate from provinces like Limpopo and the Eastern Cape in search of work.
In closing, the podcaster said the real solution lies not in targeting immigrants but in addressing corruption within government systems.
He argued that the crisis is driven by failures at the borders and within Home Affairs, as well as corrupt officials and compromised institutions.