South Africa moves Nigerians, other Africans to screening centre amid xenophobic crackdown

Cyril Xaba, Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, has ordered the transfer of Nigerians and other African nationals in Durban, South Africa, to a designated screening centre for verification of their immigration status amid escalating anti-foreigner tensions in the country.

The operation, carried out on Thursday, saw municipal authorities deploy buses to move foreign nationals from the Diakonia Centre in Durban’s central business district to a refugee reception facility where officials began formal documentation and legal status checks.

Videos that circulated widely on social media showed groups of African migrants being escorted into buses by South African law enforcement officers, sparking reactions online and reigniting concerns over renewed xenophobic campaigns in parts of South Africa.

The latest development comes amid growing anti-immigrant sentiment that has intensified since the beginning of the year, with some South Africans accusing foreign nationals of contributing to unemployment, crime, and economic hardship.

Confirming the incident, Smart Nwobi, President of the Nigerian Union South Africa, said the relocation was influenced by mounting pressure from local residents demanding the removal of undocumented migrants.

According to him, municipal authorities intervened to prevent the situation from degenerating into violence or mob attacks.

South African media reports indicated that the exercise followed the discovery that only two migrants out of hundreds processed in KwaZulu-Natal possessed valid legal documentation.

Television station eNCA reported on Friday that the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Home Affairs screened 457 migrants, with only two reportedly found to be legally residing in the country.

The report further stated that many of the affected migrants had sought refuge at temporary shelters after fleeing threats and intimidation from anti-migrant groups operating in parts of Durban and surrounding communities.

Some observers believe the intensified crackdown may also be linked to outrage surrounding the killing of Thato Molosankwe, South African crime activist and traditional healer.

Molosankwe was reportedly shot dead at his residence in Lomanyaneng village in Mahikeng on Wednesday morning. Reports said he sustained multiple gunshot wounds during the attack.

The murder triggered renewed public anger and speculation on social media, with some groups allegedly using the incident to amplify calls for the expulsion of foreign nationals from South Africa.

Following the killing, Puleng Dimpane, Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service,  directed Ryno Naidoo, North West Acting Provincial Commissioner, to deploy maximum resources toward tracking down the perpetrators.

Police authorities have since launched a full-scale investigation into the murder.

Meanwhile, Nigerians living in South Africa told Diaspora Tales that the June 30, 2026 deadline allegedly issued by some anti-migrant groups for foreign Africans to leave KwaZulu-Natal remained unchanged.

Residents said tensions were still high in several communities, despite increased police presence.

One Nigerian lawyer identified simply as Okeke said foreign nationals continued to face hostility in parts of the province.

“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,” he said.

He added that security operatives in the municipality were monitoring developments closely to prevent attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals residing in the area.