Xenophobia: S’African Mayor Orders Screening Of Nigerians, Others

The Mayor of Durban, Cyril Xaba, has ordered the transfer of Nigerians and other African nationals to a screening centre for verification of their immigration status in South Africa.

The operation, carried out on Thursday, saw foreign nationals moved by bus from the Diakonia Centre in Durban’s central business district to a designated refugee reception facility where their documents were processed.

Videos circulating on social media showed African migrants being escorted by law enforcement officials, sparking widespread reactions and concerns over renewed anti-foreigner tensions in parts of the country.

The development comes amid ongoing campaigns by some groups in South Africa calling for stricter enforcement against undocumented migrants from other African nations.

President of the Nigerian Union South Africa, Smart Nwobi, confirmed the relocation, saying it followed pressure from local residents but was managed in a way that prevented violence or disorder.

According to reports from South African media, including eNCA, the screening exercise was triggered after authorities discovered that only two out of 457 migrants processed in KwaZulu-Natal had valid documentation.

The report added that the findings prompted authorities in Durban to extend verification operations to shelters housing migrants who had sought refuge from anti-immigrant groups.

The situation has heightened concerns among migrant communities, particularly Africans living in South Africa, as calls for tighter immigration control continue to grow.

There are also reports linking the renewed tensions to wider security concerns in some communities, including the recent killing of a crime activist and traditional healer, Thato Molosankwe, an incident that has fueled protests and unrest in certain areas.

Police authorities have since launched investigations into the killing, while monitoring rising tensions linked to anti-foreigner sentiment.