Congolese man married to South African woman addresses xenophobic individuals after his son’s heartbreaking question

A Congolese man, Rev. Dr. Kamwenda Mukala, who is married to a South African woman, has penned a deeply moving post on how xenophobia has affected the mental health of his son as the deadline set by anti-migrant activists for foreigners to leave South Africa approaches.

Anti-migrant group March and March, opposition party ActionSA and others have set June 30, 2026 as the deadline for “undocumented migrants” to leave the country.

According to Mukala, his son on Tuesday, June 16, asked if he will also be leaving him and his mother since South Africans no longer want foreigners in their country.

Dr. Mukala said the question, which broke his heart, highlights the trauma and fear that xenophobia, violent rhetoric, actions, and attitudes of certain individuals have created in innocent children born from African parents of different nationalities.

Read his post below:

Dad Congolese

Mom South African

Son: Congo South African

Today my son asked me: “Dad, on the 30th of June, are you also leaving us? Since they don’t want foreigners in South Africa?”

That question broke my heart.

Dear xenophobic and afrophobic individuals, look at the trauma and fear that your words, actions, and attitudes are creating in innocent children born from African parents of different nationalities.

Many children are now growing up confused and afraid, wondering whether their fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, friends, or classmates belong here.

What started as political slogans against so-called illegal immigration has, for some people, unfortunately turned into hatred and hostility toward fellow Africans who are living, working, investing, worshipping, and raising families in South Africa.

We must remember that behind every nationality is a human being, a family, and a child who deserves to live without fear.

As Christians, we are called to love our neighbours, show compassion, and treat others with dignity and respect.

My prayer is that God heals every heart filled with hatred, fear, xenophobia, and afrophobia, and replaces it with love, understanding, and unity.

Love unites. Hatred divides.

It is impossible to be filled with the Holy Spirit, who produces love, and at the same time deliberately hate people because of where they come from.

One Africa. One Humanity. One Family.

— Rev. Dr.