Beauty Queen Ntashabele: South Africans hate Nigerians because of drug dealing

SOUTH African beauty queen, Phumzile Ntashabele, has opened up about the painful killing of 22-year-old Nigerian e-hailing driver Isaac Satlat and the broader tension between South Africans and Nigerians. While she insists Isaac’s murder was not xenophobic, she acknowledges that deep-seated resentment toward Nigerians exists in parts of South Africa.

Ntashabele, who holds the title of Mrs Global Universe South Africa 2025, describes herself as a widow, mother of two, author, motivational speaker, and advocate for justice. Though not Isaac’s biological mother, she regarded him as one of her own because of his close friendship with her son, Kagiso. She mentored Isaac and several other young men in modelling circles across Johannesburg and Pretoria, forming bonds that transcended nationality, according to The Punch.

The perception problem

According to Ntashabele, one of the main reasons some South Africans harbour hostility toward Nigerians is the widespread belief that Nigerians are heavily involved in drug trafficking. She says many South Africans accuse Nigerians of selling drugs to local youth and “destroying their children,” creating anger and resentment within communities.

“Many South Africans hate Nigerians because of drug dealing in South Africa,” she said. “The truth is that a lot of Nigerians in South Africa are drug dealers. That’s what the South Africans are fighting against. They say that Nigerians sell drugs to their children.”

However, she strongly rejects the idea that all Nigerians fit this stereotype. Having lived closely with foreign nationals for over 25 years, including Nigerians, Ugandans, and others, she insists that most Nigerians she knows are hardworking professionals, business owners, doctors, creatives, and law-abiding residents contributing positively to society.

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She argues that criminal behaviour should not be nationalised. In her view, just as South Africa has criminals who are rapists and murderers, it also has upright citizens. The same applies to Nigerians. Painting an entire nationality as criminal, she says, is both unfair and dangerous.

Scapegoating and internal frustrations

Ntashabele believes Nigerians often become scapegoats for South Africa’s broader social and economic frustrations. She points out that drugs existed in the country long before Nigerians arrived in significant numbers. Blaming foreigners, she says, distracts from internal problems such as unemployment, inequality, crime, and political failures.

She further warns that xenophobia can easily morph into other forms of division. If foreigners are pushed out, she argues, tensions could simply shift inward, becoming racial or tribal conflicts between different South African groups, such as Zulu and Ndebele communities.

In her assessment, resentment toward Nigerians is less about nationality and more about unresolved societal issues. She describes it as a form of misplaced anger, even ‘self-hate,’ where foreigners become convenient targets.

Backlash for speaking out

Ntashabele says her advocacy for Isaac and her defense of Nigerians have attracted online abuse from fellow South Africans. She has been accused of “siding with drug dealers” and told to leave her own country. Some critics have even insinuated inappropriate relationships with foreigners simply because she refuses to condemn Nigerians as a group.

Despite the insults, she remains firm in her stance. She credits foreigners, including Nigerians, for supporting her during her pageant journey. When she represented South Africa internationally, she says she felt she was representing all Africans, not just her nation, and received encouragement from diverse African communities.

Isaac’s killing and justice efforts

While acknowledging xenophobic violence does occur in South Africa, Ntashabele maintains that Isaac’s killing was not a targeted attack based on nationality. She believes the suspects simply requested an e-hailing ride and happened to get Isaac, without knowing he was Nigerian. Nothing was stolen from him – his phone, wallet, and passport were reportedly found in the car – suggesting robbery may not have been the motive.

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Several suspects between the ages of 25 and 30 have been arrested, with court proceedings ongoing in Pretoria. Ntashabele is pushing for life imprisonment without parole, arguing that the accused showed no remorse.

She has also mobilised public support by sharing information online, which she says helped pressure one suspect to surrender. In addition, she is seeking financial assistance to help repatriate Isaac’s body.

“We are pleading with all Africans who are here to support us to get justice for Isaac. We are also pleading for financial assistance to take Isaac back home. There’s already a link where the connection has been made. We’ve been sharing that,” she adds.

Call for balance

Ultimately, Ntashabele’s message is one of nuance. She does not deny that criminal elements exist among Nigerians in South Africa. But she insists that collective blame fuels division and injustice. For her, the real solution lies in confronting crime without ethnic bias and addressing South Africa’s internal challenges head-on.

In her words, the problem is not ‘Nigeria versus South Africa.’ It is about crime, accountability, and the need to resist turning social frustrations into hatred against an entire people.