South African actress Brenda Ngxoli is currently making headlines after sharing a tweet saying Rhythm City David James refers to her as a racial slur on the set of Sew The Winter to my Skin 

Ngxoli address racist experience with David James

On 21 April 2024, the Tockville actress shared a tweet in which she says fellow Actor David James referred to her as “K**fir Meit”. 

The actress counties the tweed saying if anything were to happen to either herself or her child, “ David James is his name”, insinuating that if she or her child were to face any danger or harm, the District 9 actor would be responsible. 

Ngxoli writes follow up about David James

The actress and mother shared that after being referee to as “K***ir meit” by a fellow actor, she reported the incident to the assistant director and director Jamhil Xolani Qhubeka. Qhubeka “gave me an ice cold cream soda” says the actress. 

She explains she can speak on the issue now as she never signed a non-disclosure agreement. Despite facing difficulty after reporting the incident, Ngxoli makes it clear she will continue to stand on her truth.

David James and Ngxoli work together on set

Sew The Winter to my skin is a South African action film from director Jahmil X.T. Qubeka. The film was remade in 2018 and as summarised by IMDB, the film is based on the true story of John Kepe who was a self proclaimed “Samson of the Boschberg mountains”. John Kepe was known as a threat to white settler farmers as he stole crops and shared them with the poor. The film is set in 1950 during apartheid South Africa and explores themes of race, racism and racialised violence.

South Africans share split opinion on the allegations against James :

South Africans swiftly responded sharing their opinions on the situation and both the actors. Some are not shocked by the allegations and others are question the reason for sharing the tweets.

Many other users shared the same sentiment, wondering why the actress waited seven years to share the experience: 

@giftoz13. asked:

“But why now, Why didn’t you report it at the time though … or ikhona into esingayaziyo (is there something we don’t  know).”

Others immediately believe the allegations claiming that David James’ ability to play racist characters is in part because he himself is racist. 

@Twiggli shares an experience of watching the theatre production of Biko where David James plays an Afrikaner Sergeant:

“Remember how good he was here, so good that you would forget he’s acting, I guess he wasn’t.”

@cozmino_ said:

“His face says it all.”

The allegations have yet to be confirmed and David James himself has not made a statement.