Author: Gist Correspondent

A fresh wave of xenophobic violence in South Africa has left many Nigerians counting huge losses as mobs targeted foreign-owned businesses and residents in parts of Johannesburg and Durban this week.

The attacks, which reportedly began on Monday, saw shops owned by foreigners looted, properties vandalised, and African immigrants subjected to violent assaults, sparking renewed fear among members of the Nigerian community.

Several Nigerians were said to have lost goods worth millions of naira, while others reportedly fled their homes and went into hiding for safety.

The development has revived painful memories of similar attacks in 2015 and 2019, when dozens of Nigerians were assaulted, businesses were razed, and many citizens were forced to return home through emergency evacuation arrangements by the Federal Government.

Despite repeated assurances by South African authorities after previous incidents, the violence has once again resurfaced, raising concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in the country.

Leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as an act of “self-hatred” and a betrayal of African unity.

Malema urged South Africans to reject violence against fellow Africans and embrace Pan-African solidarity, insisting that economic hardship should not be blamed on immigrants.

“We are ashamed to see black people attacking other Africans,” he said, stressing that the violence was unfairly directed at African nationals rather than other foreign groups.

He maintained that targeting petty traders and low-income migrants would not solve South Africa’s economic challenges, while advocating his “One Africa” agenda that calls for stronger continental unity and the dismantling of colonial borders.

Meanwhile, Nigerian community leaders in South Africa have called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene and also appealed to South African authorities to guarantee the protection of lives and property.

The Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA) said it had recorded fresh cases of harassment and looting, noting that many affected families were traumatised by the attacks.

“We cannot continue to live in fear every few years. Our people are not criminals; they are contributing to the economy,” a NUSA official said.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) also urged Nigerians living in South Africa to comply with safety advisories issued by the Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg amid the worsening anti-foreigner protests.

In a statement signed by the Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM said the warning followed an official circular dated April 22, 2026, detailing unrest in East London, Cape Town, Durban and KwaZulu-Natal, including looting, injuries and destruction of property.

The commission disclosed that intelligence reports indicated more protests were expected in Gauteng Province between April 27 and 29 as demonstrators mounted pressure on the South African government over the presence of foreign nationals.

Nigerians were advised to avoid confrontations with protesters, stay away from demonstration groups, monitor local media for updates and remain law-abiding at all times.

Business owners were also urged to protect their property by shutting down operations on Freedom Day, April 27, and considering temporary closure between April 28 and 29, as foreign-owned businesses often become targets during such unrest.

NiDCOM stated that the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg remains operational and is working closely with South African police authorities to ensure the safety of Nigerians.

It was also gathered that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Onoh, was engaging South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister in efforts to address the crisis and prevent further escalation.