Logo

Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala’s Remarks on Namibia Genocide Stir Antisemitism Claims in Germany


Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala
Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala

South African academic and politician Dr. Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala has come under fire in Germany after being accused of making antisemitic remarks during a keynote address at an international restitution and reparations conference.

The incident took place on 25 January during the “Rising from the Ashes” congress hosted in Berlin by the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) in partnership with the Goethe-Institut London. Litchfield-Tshabalala, who is known for her work on social justice and illicit financial flows in Africa, was invited to contribute to discussions on historical accountability and restitution. However, organisers say her presentation strayed from the assigned theme and included “antisemitic and historical-revisionist conspiracy theories.”

Following the speech, both HKW and the Goethe-Institut condemned her remarks and announced that all cooperation with her had been terminated. They stressed that her comments were incompatible with the principles of human dignity, justice, and inclusive dialogue that the institutions stand for.

The controversy comes against the backdrop of renewed debate about Germany’s colonial past in Namibia. Between 1904 and 1908, German colonial forces carried out massacres of the Herero and Nama people, an atrocity widely recognised as the first genocide of the 20th century. In 2021, Germany formally acknowledged its responsibility and pledged €1.1 billion in development support to Namibia over three decades. However, Berlin stopped short of calling this package reparations, framing it instead as a gesture of reconciliation.

This approach has drawn criticism within Namibia, particularly from descendants of the affected communities, who argue that genuine reparations and land restitution remain essential for meaningful justice. In May this year, Namibia marked its first Genocide Remembrance Day, with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah urging Germany to go beyond symbolic recognition and provide direct reparations. Legal challenges against the 2021 agreement are also ongoing in Namibia’s courts.

Against this sensitive historical backdrop, Litchfield-Tshabalala’s intervention in Berlin has intensified the debate about how Germany confronts its colonial legacy. While German cultural institutions have distanced themselves from her comments, the controversy highlights the deep fractures that persist in discussions about reparations, historical responsibility, and reconciliation more than a century after the genocide.

0Comments

Share This Post

Leave a Reply


Sport News

CELEB STORIES
Regina Daniels Needs Rehabilitation, Says Husband Senator Ned Nwoko Who Accused the Actress of Using Too Much Drugs
TUWOct 19, 2025
Regina Daniels Needs Rehabilitation, Says Husband Senator Ned Nwoko Who Accused the Actress of Using Too Much Drugs

Nigerian senator Ned Nwoko has accused his wife, actress Regina Daniels, of substance abuse and violent behaviour, claiming she requires…

Regina Daniels Cries Out Over Alleged Violence in Her Marriage with Millionare Ned Nwoko
Aneli FuraOct 18, 2025
Regina Daniels Cries Out Over Alleged Violence in Her Marriage with Millionare Ned Nwoko

Nollywood actress Regina Daniels has reportedly opened up about ongoing challenges in her marriage to businessman and former senator Ned…

Diddy Sentenced to Four Years in Prison Over Prostitution Charges
TUWOct 4, 2025
Sean Diddy Combs convert

A federal judge in Manhattan has sentenced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs to four years and two months in prison…

NSK Issues Detailed Statement on Childline/Lifeline Namibia Dispute Involving Jericho
TUWSep 29, 2025
Denzel Leroy //Naobeb Well known as NSK

Radio broadcaster and columnist Denzel Leroy //Naobeb Well known as NSK has broken his silence with a detailed official statement…


HEALTH TOPICS
Rundu State Hospital the Main Beneficiaries of N$8.5 Million Medical Equipment Donation from IUM
TUWOct 22, 2025
Rundu State Hospital the Main Beneficiaries of N$8.5 Million Medical Equipment Donation from IUM

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has received medical equipment worth N$8.5 million from the International University of Management (IUM), with Rundu State Hospital…

Second Mpox Case Confirmed in Swakopmund
Ryan SiprianoOct 21, 2025
Second Mpox Case Confirmed in Swakopmund

Health Minister Dr Esperance Luvindao has announced the confirmation of a second Mpox case in Swakopmund, bringing Namibia’s total confirmed infections to two. In a…

44 Individuals in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund Identified Through Mpox Contact Tracing
TUWOct 21, 2025
Mpox Cases Rise to 44 Along Namibia’s Coast towns

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has clarified that the 44 mpox cases reported in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund are not confirmed infections. These…

Namibia Confirms First Mpox Case in Swakopmund
Ryan SiprianoOct 19, 2025
Namibia Confirms First Mpox Case in Swakopmund

Namibia has reported its first case of Mpox in Swakopmund, Erongo Region, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) announced on Sunday. The patient…

Africa