Thembisa Fakude

“It is a storm in a teacup. And I think what’s concerning me is this othering by Muslims wanting to position themselves as victims and taking this course by themselves. It’s extremely dangerous.”

Thembisa Fakude · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-30

Fakude argued that Muslims positioning themselves as victims without confronting internal issues is dangerous.

“I’ll argue that there is no widespread or any orchestrated, well-planned Islamophobia directed towards Muslims. We don’t have that.”

Thembisa Fakude · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-30

Fakude told Al Jazeera that fears of widespread Islamophobia in South Africa are being overstated.

“It’s true, but it’s not only South Africa. This is global … In South Africa, yes, it’s true. You find that there will always be bigots, you know, and others will be, you know, ultra-Zulu nationalist or ultra-nationalist.”

Thembisa Fakude · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-30

Fakude acknowledged anti-Muslim rhetoric online but argued it is a global phenomenon, not uniquely South African.