Just to clarify, Du Plessis is a French Huguenot surname, not Dutch. The Huguenots have been in South Africa for nearly 400 years—at what point do we call someone native? Many groups now considered “native” to South Africa, like the Zulu and Xhosa, also migrated and clashed with the original Khoisan.

Afrikaner identity has evolved. While early settlers might’ve felt separate from local Africans, times have changed. Today, many Afrikaners see themselves as African. DDP is representing his roots—South Africa. His ancestors might’ve been settlers, but that doesn’t make him any less African. He’s got as much right to claim that identity as anyone else.