Veteran Actor Kere Nyawo’s Old Podcast Comments on Foreigners and SA Jobs Resurface, Divide Mzansi

• A clip from a 2024 King David Podcast interview featuring Kere Nyawo resurfaced on X on 14 August 2026
• Nyawo argued that foreigners are not taking South African jobs but creating their own opportunities by identifying gaps in the market
• Mzansi is sharply divided, with some defending his message while others say he spoke on something he doesn't fully understand

An old podcast clip featuring Kere Nyawo has found new life on social media, reigniting one of South Africa's most heated debates. X user @joy_zelda reshared the footage on 14 August 2026, and it didn't take long before Mzansi had strong feelings about it.

The original interview took place on 25 August 2024 at the King David Studio, where Nyawo sat down for a podcast-style conversation about South Africa's socioeconomic challenges. During the discussion, he pushed back on the popular narrative that foreign nationals are stealing employment opportunities from locals.

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What did Kere Nyawo actually say?

Nyawo's argument centred on skills development rather than immigration itself. He contended that foreign nationals are not occupying jobs that South Africans already hold, but are instead spotting market gaps and building their own livelihoods. His point was that the real question South Africans should be asking is how to equip locals with the skills to do the same.

He also took aim at the country's education system, questioning what the CAPS curriculum has actually delivered for young South Africans. He suggested that adopting an internationally competitive education model, referencing Cambridge as an example, could better prepare the youth for economic participation. "About 20, 30 per cent," he said, alluding to what he felt the current system had produced in meaningful outcomes.

Mzansi reacts to the resurfaced clip

The video landed differently in 2026 than it might have in 2024, given the renewed national conversation around illegal immigration. Responses ranged from sharp disagreement to nuanced agreement with parts of his message.

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@Timeless_365 was blunt: "We will be there; our hate is long-term."

@Siya_Mhlotshane did not hold back either:

"We are here to remind him; he should have kept his mouth closed on this issue."

@Mafika_TM challenged the core of Nyawo's argument:

"He will learn why it wasn't a good idea to have opinions on things he doesn't understand. Labour and entrepreneurship will never be the same thing. Foreigners are occupying labour which is reserved for South Africans."

Not everyone dismissed his message outright. @TshepoP001 urged people to look past the messenger:

"Instead of listening to the message, we want to see who's talking; that's why we are always behind with many things. He's talking about those who are creating good jobs for themselves; that's courage, and South Africans want to depend on the Government for handouts. Listen to understand."

@TshepoMatela offered a balanced take:

"I'm not backing what he is saying, but he is stating facts most of us don't have useful skills to uplift our economy like simple agriculture. Listen to the message, not the messenger, but those foreigners should use those skills in their home countries still."

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@qualimk shifted focus to a broader frustration:

"Whoever said we must all have degrees has killed the nation. In the end there aren't jobs, and we can't create anything with the very degrees."

Watch the clip that has split Mzansi below:

Somizi under fire for his comments about South Africans

Meanwhile, Briefly News previously reported that X users directed calls to Metro FM after the station deleted a video of Somizi making controversial remarks about South Africans.

Listeners accused the broadcaster of not going far enough by simply removing the clip without holding Somizi accountable.

Source: Briefly News