By Sandra Kenneth
The Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA) has stated that it is practically impossible for all Nigerians residing in the country to evacuate, following a wave of renewed anti-immigration protests and attacks directed at foreign-owned businesses.
Speaking in an interview, NUSA President-General Smart Nwobi explained that many Nigerians have lived in South Africa for decades, with some having settled prior to the apartheid era and having built families, homes, and established livelihoods.
Reacting to the recent outbreak of violence in Johannesburg and Durban, Nwobi emphasized that the xenophobic protests should not be isolated as a targeted issue against Nigerians alone, noting that migrants from across the African continent are affected.
“It is not possible for all Nigerians to leave South Africa. Some people have settled here for decades, even before apartheid; they have resided here, they have had children, their livelihood is here, and it is not easy,” Nwobi said. “We should know that it is not only Nigeria that is a foreign migrant here; it is an entire African migrant issue.”
The latest unrest saw at least 24 vehicles torched and multiple foreign-owned shops looted during anti-immigration demonstrations in Soweto, a township outside Johannesburg, and in Durban, according to South African police reports. Law enforcement confirmed that 14 vehicles were set ablaze in Durban and 10 in Soweto, while three foreign nationals were arrested in connection with an alleged assault on a protester in Durban.
The violence was fueled by public backlash against a recent Constitutional Court ruling. The ruling removed procedural barriers that previously prevented certain migrants—who entered South Africa irregularly, lacked asylum transit visas, or missed reporting deadlines—from applying for asylum.
While the South African government clarified in an official statement that the ruling does not automatically grant refugee status or permanent residency, but merely allows affected individuals to have their claims reviewed, authorities acknowledged that refugee reception offices have become heavily overwhelmed by applications.
Addressing repatriation efforts, Nwobi noted that arrangements are underway to assist nationals who wish to return home voluntarily, though numbers remain a fraction of the total Nigerian population in the country.
“A flight left yesterday (Friday) with around 150 people, and we still have between 1,500 and 2,000 Nigerians who are willing to leave,” Nwobi disclosed. “Remember RCCG promised 500 tickets, but due to logistical and clearance purposes, all 500 will not leave at once; it will be in batches.”
He added that roughly 2,500 Nigerians have departed South Africa so far, factoring in previous federal government evacuations alongside private and corporate initiatives, projecting that the figure could reach about 5,000 upon the conclusion of ongoing assistance programs.
