Anti-SA sentiment hits Bafana camp with unprecedented online abuse: ‘It hurts’

Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams opened up on the social media abuse he has received from his own countrymen, as well as football supporters from other parts of the African continent.

Williams and his team-mates have been heavily criticised by Bafana supporters while also facing online abuse from some Africans who are unhappy about the country’s anti-immigration posture.

This has happened while leading up to Bafana’s crucial Group A clash in the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Czechia on Thursday - the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.

For more Bafana Bafana news, please visit the News24 dedicated World Cup hub.

In Atlanta

The FIFA World Cup dream of a generation, whose core comprises players who were youngsters the last time the team featured in the global showpiece in 2010 on home soil, has turned into a nightmare due to South Africa’s current anti-immigrant posture and Bafana Bafana’s poor start.

FIFA’s social media protection service revealed that Bafana Bafana players have experienced unprecedented levels of online abuse since the World Cup started.

READ | ‘There was not even VAR on Messi!’: SAFA to appeal Themba Zwane’s three-match ban

The body added that the combined incidents of abuse online that they have picked up at this year’s World Cup have already surpassed the figures recorded in the entire tournament in Qatar four years ago – just a week into the showpiece that kicked off at Azteca Stadium on 11 June when Bafana lost 2-0 to Mexico.

This was revealed at the National Centre for Civil and Human Rights in the capital city of Georgia, just a few kilometres from Atlanta Stadium - where Bafana will take on Czechia on Thursday, which happens to be the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.

Bafana’s poor performance in their 2-0 loss to Mexico in the opening match of the tournament lit the first flame of online abuse.

However, the South Africa’s anti-immigrant posture has added petrol to that flame - burning Bafana players, with captain Ronwen Williams among its worst victims, receiving abuse from his countrymen and those angry at South Africa.

The actions of the vigilante group March and March, which describes itself as “a grassroots citizen movement addressing growing concerns about undocumented immigration in South Africa”, have directly impacted Bafana, with a number of Africans across the continent “hate watching” the team.

March and March’s voice has grown louder, even prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the nation to announce measures to tackle South Africa’s porous borders.

The group hasn’t just been raising awareness about the country’s immigration challenge, they have also set 30 June as a deadline for when undocumented migrants are expected to leave South Africa.

They weren’t explicit about what would happen after 30 June, but scenes from their marches have hinted at potential violence and harm to those who don’t abide by their instructions.

Various governments have provided facilities for voluntary repatriations. The response from some parts of the continent hasn’t just ended with some football supporters “hate watching” Bafana, but it has also seen the spread of fake news, with a made-up quote from Williams picked up by reputable publications.

The quote claims that Williams said the team is saddened by Africans who supported Mexico over Bafana, adding that the team almost shed a tear.

“We know how difficult it is now on social media, where everyone is attacking you,” said Williams.

“Sometimes it’s (because of) false information. If you lose a game, and you don’t perform, you can take it as players. You can put your hand up. But when there’s false information that goes around, then it hurts.

“I have been a target over the last few days over things I didn’t say. I didn’t say anything about Africa, or people supporting Mexico. I have always said that as Africa, we are one. We support each other in good and bad moments.

“We’ve all got our own politics, our own problems and our own fights that we deal with back home. Every country has that. I don’t know where that stems from. It does hurt. I have been attacked... my country as well, for things that are going on back home.”

READ | Bafana at World Cup: ‘We are not realistic as South Africa’ - goalkeeper defends coach Broos

This is the second time Bafana have been directly impacted by the anti-immigrant posture dominating South African politics. In 2019, Madagascar and Zambia refused to play international friendlies against Bafana due to the spate of xenophobic attacks in Mzansi.

This left coach Moleft Ntseki, who had just taken over from Stuart Baxter, to start the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations’ (Afcon) qualifying campaign without having properly worked with the team.

The consequence is that Bafana failed to qualify for the tournament, finishing third in a group that included Ghana, Sudan, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Six years later, those who are angry with South Africa’s position have taken some of their frustrations out on Bafana players.

“Players are human beings as well. We go through it. Sometimes it gets a lot,” said Williams.

“You want to focus on doing your job, which is being a footballer, but then you get involved in politics even though you don’t want to get into that space.

“But the wonderful thing about sport is that it can unite, it can make or break you. It can bring people together.

“We are in Atlanta now, and I see so many Africans... so many South Africans and people from Mexico, in one room. That’s the beauty of sport. That’s the beauty of football.

“So, let’s just enjoy and have a wonderful time, and we leave politics to the politicians. Let us just play football, and enjoy ourselves.

“Criticise [us] for what happens on the field, but off the field things - we can’t deal with that, and it has nothing to do with us. As Africans, let’s unite and keep going because we are all in this together.”

Williams and company have to rise above the abuse they have received to perform well against Czechia in a match that could determine which teams from Group A advance to the knockout stage.

The top two sides in each group automatically qualify, while eight of the third-best placed finishers among the 12 groups also make it to the last 32.

The path that Bafana take will be determined by how the players handle the hatred they have received from certain quarters on the continent, as well as stinging criticism from their own supporters back home.

“As sad as this sounds, players have accepted it (the online abuse), that that’s how things are in the world now,” said Williams.

“We’ve had meetings to discuss this as players. But you have an experienced coach in coach Hugo (Broos), who says that the most important thing is to analyse the game.

“That is the most important thing, to block out the noise, focus on how we can do better, learn from our mistakes and just stick together as a team.

“If you are going to listen to a million people’s opinions, then you will lose your mind. So, at this moment, the most important comment and the person to listen to is our coach and technical team. He knows us, and we know him. He knows our strengths and weaknesses.

“We are there for one another. We came here together, and we will leave here together. So, let us stick together as a team and keep the focus.”

Click here to read article