South Africa: Mayor orders transfer of Nigerians, other Africans to screening center

The recent actions by eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba, ordering the transfer of Nigerian and other African nationals to a screening center, highlight the escalating xenophobia gripping South Africa. While municipal authorities claim the move was to process legal status and prevent chaos, it is undeniably part of a broader, deeply concerning anti-foreigner campaign.

The sight of African foreigners being marched into buses by law enforcement, as captured in viral videos, is a stark reminder of the hostility many face. This is not merely about documentation; it's about a pervasive sentiment that pushes African migrants out, often while seemingly tolerating or even favoring white and Asian foreigners, according to local reports.

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The mayor moved to separate the foreigners because of the pressure from the hosts.

The justification that only two out of 457 processed migrants were legal in KwaZulu-Natal is being used to rationalize these sweeps. However, this narrative conveniently ignores the systemic issues and the human cost of such policies. The Nigerian Union in South Africa notes the pressure from hosts, but the municipal authorities' response is a heavy-handed one that further marginalizes vulnerable populations.

This situation is particularly galling given that South Africa itself is a product of African solidarity. To see fellow Africans treated with such suspicion and force is a betrayal of that spirit. The ongoing tension, with a deadline of June 30, 2026, for foreign Africans in KZN to leave, underscores a national crisis of identity and belonging that needs urgent, humane attention, not further division.

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The situation is very true. Nigerians and other African nationals are still here. The South Africans want everyone to leave except White and Asian foreigners.