As tensions rise across South Africa, the Nigerian Consulate, working alongside the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), has arranged a free evacuation flight for Nigerians willing to relocate permanently.
NICASA President, Frank Onyekwelu said that the worsening situation has forced many Nigerians to close their businesses.
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He noted that while there is no comprehensive support framework for affected citizens, the consulate’s initiative offers a lifeline to those seeking to leave.
According to him, several Nigerians have already expressed interest in returning home.
“The Nigerian Consulate, in partnership with NICASA, is offering free repatriation to Nigerians who wish to leave South Africa permanently. Many have already indicated readiness to return,” he said.
Nigerians living in the country have also shared distressing accounts, describing how recurring violence has endangered their safety, livelihoods, and mental health.
Many said they now remain indoors, gripped by fear as foreign nationals increasingly become targets of attacks.
Anti-foreigner protests have erupted in cities including Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, East London, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal, leading to harassment, looting, destruction of property, and injuries.
The unrest has heightened anxiety within the diaspora community, prompting the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to advise Nigerian business owners to temporarily shut down operations to reduce exposure to risk.
Reports suggest the protests are being driven by local groups and anti-immigration movements such as Operation Dudula and the March and March Movement, among others, who claim to be tackling illegal immigration and unemployment.
Demonstrators accuse migrants of contributing to economic hardship and crime, with calls for the deportation of undocumented foreigners, particularly from African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Somalia.
The unrest has reportedly claimed lives. The Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg confirmed the deaths of two Nigerians, Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew in separate incidents linked to the violence.
The Consul-General, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, disclosed that Emmanuel died from injuries allegedly sustained after being assaulted by personnel of the South African National Defence Force on April 20.
Andrew, she said, was arrested on April 19 in Pretoria after an alleged altercation with the Tshwane Metro Police, and his body was later found at a central mortuary.
Videos circulating online show large groups of protesters marching through streets wielding sticks and chanting anti-foreigner slogans.
In one instance, a Nigerian trader was confronted and ordered to leave the country with his family despite explaining that he had lived and worked there for years.
The situation worsened further with the killing of an Ethiopian national in central Johannesburg, an incident captured on CCTV showing the victim being shot at close range. Authorities have yet to make any arrests, though investigations are ongoing.
The South African Police Service has condemned acts of intimidation, stating that such behaviour contradicts the country’s values of equality, dignity, and human rights.
Businesses hit hard
Nigerian entrepreneurs in South Africa say they are suffering heavy losses as foreign-owned businesses continue to be targeted.
A restaurant owner in Johannesburg, Yemisi Adewale, recounted a near-attack while sourcing goods at a local market.
She alleged that protesters were deliberately targeting Nigerian- and Ghanaian-owned shops, looting goods and vandalising properties even in the presence of security personnel.
According to her, traders have been forced to abandon their businesses and prioritise safety.
“This is no longer a protest—it’s looting and destruction. We’ve shut down our businesses because once they see you open, they attack immediately,” she said.
Another trader, who spoke anonymously, described the violence as organised and sustained, noting that hundreds of shops owned by foreigners have already been looted.
She added that fear has paralysed business activities, with most traders staying indoors to avoid attacks.
Rural and informal communities worst affected
Community leaders say those in informal settlements are bearing the brunt of the crisis.
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in South Africa, ABC Okokoh, explained that small-scale traders in these areas have been the most impacted.
He noted that while some regions remain calm, residents in affected areas have limited movement and are largely confined indoors.
Okokoh also suggested that some local actors may be exploiting the situation for political advantage, while the government appears cautious in its response to avoid escalating tensions.
Similarly, the President of the Association of Yorubas in Diaspora in South Africa, Olusola Agbeniyi, said normal activities continue in many parts of the country, with disruptions mostly confined to certain hotspots.
He added that security presence has helped contain the situation in some areas.
Meanwhile, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission said it is awaiting further updates, noting that the issue has been escalated to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who is currently engaging South African authorities as efforts continue to resolve the crisis.
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