(Photo: Toyin Adedokun/AFP)
The first group of Nigerian nationals repatriated from South Africa following increasing anti-immigrant violence landed in Lagos on Thursday. A chartered plane carrying 262 Nigerians arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in the morning, where they were welcomed by Sola Enikanolaiye, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
This evacuation is the beginning of a larger enterprise; A second group is expected to be flown out on Monday. According to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about a thousand people have already indicated that they want to leave South Africa because of the crisis.
Violence, pressure on foreigners increases
The repatriation follows weeks of increasing tension and widespread violence against foreigners in South Africa. Gangs armed with sticks, whips and shields moved through neighborhoods demanding that people without the necessary residency documents leave the country by June 30.
Foreign nationals experienced weeks of severe intimidation and assaults. According to official reports, foreigners told how they were threatened and assaulted by mobs that went from door to door. Many families were driven from their homes, and many simply fled to escape the threats. Due to these circumstances, Ghana, Mozambique and Malawi have already sent hundreds of their citizens home in recent weeks.
Although South Africa is one of Africa’s largest economies and hosts more than three million foreigners – just over 5% of the total population – the local unemployment rate remains above 30%. According to analysts, it is this economic pressure in particular that fuels the anger and tension towards migrants.
Protesters arrived with sticks and shields on Friday at a protest against immigrants in Actonville, Wattville and other areas in Benoni (Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee / GroundUp)
SA declares migrants ‘undesirable persons’
South African authorities have since confirmed that 586 Nigerian citizens have already been processed for repatriation. According to the police, all these individuals were in the country illegally and their passports and visas had already expired.
“All the individuals involved have been declared undesirable persons and are consequently prohibited from re-entering South Africa for a period of five years,” the South African government said in an official statement.
However, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs retaliated and described the evacuation as a necessary, purposeful step to protect its people. According to the ministry, the evacuation underscores the government’s proactive and decisive action to protect Nigerian lives and dignity in the face of violence and intolerance.
The authorities made it clear that no Nigerian should live in fear simply because of their nationality, and that the evacuation should in no way be seen as a defeat.
Emilia Godwin, a 45-year-old woman who was among the first group in Lagos, expressed her fate in South Africa bitterly.
“South Africa is an evil country. Even when you apply to renew your residence permit, they will use that opportunity to arrest you and lock you up.”
(Photo: Toyin Adedokun/AFP)
South Africa has traditionally been a popular destination for both legal and undocumented workers from across the continent. However, the country has been grappling with repeated waves of xenophobic violence since 2008, during which dozens of migrants have already died over the years.
The current unrest coincides with heightened political tension in the country as parties prepare for local government elections in November.
While the first group of Nigerians is now safely back in their homeland, the situation in South Africa remains explosive due to a complex mix of economic hardship, migration pressure and political unrest that still prevails in cities and townships.
