₦airaland Forum

IronGalaxy:
Ghana can easily say "Nigerians must go" and its not "xenophobic" but wait until we do the same.. we are clearly measured at a different standard

Indeed

Haven't seen the word XENOPHOBIA anywhere 🙄🙄🙄 Or is it only reserved for SA?

IronGalaxy:
I see it all the time...fun fact :My real name is one of the names you mentioned

Lol, I'm guessing Thabiso coz it also has an 'i' like your moniker.

LordBiden:
You guys should respect yourselves in that SA,our new Ambassador designate Femi fani kayode is a no nonsense person.

In that case hell quickly find himself in the naughty corner alongside Trump's new guy in SA who started running his mouth off a few days after arriving in March this year. SA didn't have none of dat! Bozell is now a good little boy in SA 😎

Discussion on Nigerian response to SA protests and High Commissioner Designate @05:50)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls0Zab1ikUA?si=UN3MPqZlaH0CTpnx

ANCHOR (THULASIZWE): Tell us about the new ambassador that is being sent to South Africa. Perhaps there is a pathway to heightened diplomatic engagement, if you look at the meeting that happened in Nigeria and now we're hearing of a delegation coming, as well as what you are about to tell us about a new ambassador that is being sent to South Africa.

CORRESPONDENT (SOPHIE): Yes, both countries are working very hard to try and find a solution, because both countries need each other... And now today we saw breaking news in the afternoon. At the moment, there's no high commissioner of Nigeria in Pretoria. There's an acting high commissioner, as you saw him now.

There's an announcement that the permanent or Ambassador designate, or High Commissioner designate, is coming now, and he did post on social media, quite promising comments where he expressed the view that he was supposed to be posted in Germany, but he chose to come to South Africa, and requested that he rather come to South Africa because he feels that he supports South Africa's international position, particularly on multilateralism and other issues. And therefore, in terms of his convictions and beliefs, it sounds like he's a good politician. He feels this country is a shining example at the global stage, and he resonates with the positions of South Africa at global level, resonates with his conviction and his belief, and therefore that was promising.

Even though there are kind of disturbing comments from the new Minister of Foreign Affairs who was appointed on Friday when she talks about the telephone conversation with our Minister of international relations. There were some words used in the statement that are disturbing where she talks about judicial killings, and it is almost similar to President Donald Trump's language as it relates to the Afrikaners, because there's no judicial killings in South Africa. It's this rising tension that leads to conflict and violence and criminality also coming in opportunistic stand off, because it's election year, and therefore it's a complex matter. And therefore I think South Africa would also feel aggrieved with the use of "judicial killings".

THULASIZWE: Sophie to quote, and I have that tweet by the ambassador designate to South Africa, Femi Fani Kayode, who was meant, as you say, to have been deployed to Germany, but actually made representations to President Bola Tinubu to say, please send me to South Africa. And he says, quote, "I also express the fact that I would rather serve in a country that shares some of my convictions, beliefs and values when it comes to world affairs, that is the biggest economy in Africa, that has closer ties to Nigeria and that is more proximate to my political thinking when it comes to foreign affairs and a Pan African vision. End quote."

Angelfrost:
Well... You can always use RandLand... Oops.

🙄🙄🙄

SA women aren't known for sprinting - that's the terrain of our male athletes who are currently breaking records over there. So, we'll take second as a win for our women, thank you.

Congrats to your ladies.

Lol, I can tell how this thread is gonna go 🇿🇦😂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHyWNyVDUj0?si=vravT0F7w5XGxyMV

South Africa is seeing a rare and powerful sight: thousands of Zulu regiments marching through city centres in full traditional gear, carrying weapons that symbolise a warrior past.

At first glance, it looks like a show of force. The shields, the chants, the tight formations. But there is more going on beneath the surface. These are Amabutho – a structured, disciplined force with deep roots in Zulu history, whose chain of command runs up through traditional leaders to King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.

That matters.

Unlike many political marches that break into chaos, the Amabutho contingents have shown remarkable control amid protests in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban against undocumented immigration, high crime rates, and socio-economic challenges many locals blame on foreign nationals.

There was none of the looting on the scale of past xenophobic flare-ups, and the regiments themselves have largely avoided clashes with police – in some cases, officers have stood calmly alongside march leaders.

This discipline is not by accident. It is enforced.

Nkosikhona Ndabandaba, known as Phakelumthakathi, who leads many of these marches, has made it clear that violence will not be tolerated. In one widely shared video, he uses a sjambok (whip) on a supporter trying to attack foreign nationals, his message simple: the protest must stay peaceful. Inside the ranks, indunas from hostels and townships guide the movement, manage the crowd, and make sure instructions are followed.

THE RISK WHEN PEOPLE FREL LEFT BEHIND

The role of King Misuzulu is central to all of this. The Amabutho do not act in a vacuum. Their legitimacy comes from the Zulu royal house, and when they move in such large numbers, it signals approval from the top. That link to the king also helps explain why security forces have taken a softer approach. Authorities understand how Amabutho operate. They know this is not a loose gathering but a structured system with leadership and rules.

So far, that structure has helped contain violence rather than fuel it.

But the situation is not without risk.

These marches are happening in a country under pressure. Unemployment, at 32.9%, has remained stubbornly high. Many people feel left behind. In townships and informal settlements, competition for work, space, and services is intense. Immigration has become a flashpoint in that struggle.

South Africa has laws that allow skilled people to enter the country. But in the informal economy, enforcement is weak. Documentation is often unclear. This creates frustration among citizens who feel the system is not working for them.

That frustration is now on the streets.

Civic movements and political groups are tapping into it. They call for mass deportations, demand tighter controls, and say they are putting “South Africans first”. Some of these demands are about law enforcement. But the methods used on the ground do not always follow the law.

This is where the danger grows.

It doesn’t take much to erupt into chaos
The Amabutho have, for now, brought order to these protests. But they are not the only actors. Political parties and groups like Operation Dudula – the anti-migrant movement halted last November by a high court order over a violent campaign – are also present, and their approach is often more aggressive. In some cases, protests have shifted from marching to intimidation. Shops are forced to close. Migrants are targeted.

A traditional force that follows leadership and values discipline is now mixing with political and civic groups pushing a harder line. As these groups blend, the risk increases. A peaceful march can change quickly if control is lost, and once a small group sparks violence, even disciplined formations struggle to contain the chaos.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has tried to strike a balance. In his Freedom Day address in Bloemfontein on April 27, he acknowledged “legitimate concerns” about illegal migration while warning South Africans against letting those concerns “breed prejudice towards our fellow Africans”. That balance matters. It is also hard to maintain on the ground.

The deeper issue is the gap left by the state. For years, weak enforcement, poor service delivery, and slow systems have created frustration. In that gap, community movements have stepped in. They organise, they mobilise, they act. Sometimes within the law. Sometimes beyond it.

The Amabutho marches sit right at the centre of this moment.

They show that large groups can organise without descending into chaos. That discipline and leadership can hold even in tense situations. But they also show how quickly things could shift.

The anger driving these protests is real. It comes from poverty, unemployment, and a sense that the system is failing ordinary people. But anger does not always find the right target. It is easier to confront a foreign shopkeeper than to challenge the systems that allow exploitation. It is easier to push out a street trader than to fix broken regulation.

That is how frustration becomes xenophobia.

Once people start deciding who belongs and who does not, outside the law, it becomes very hard to stop. Today it may be migrants. Tomorrow it could be anyone seen as an outsider.

The Amabutho have shown restraint. Their link to King Misuzulu and their internal discipline have kept things calm. But the growing involvement of political groups is adding pressure that traditional structures alone cannot absorb.

The line between protest and violence is still visible. But it is getting thinner.

If the state does not step in with clear, consistent enforcement of the law, others will continue to fill the space. And not all of them will choose discipline over chaos.

For now, the Amabutho are holding that line. But a line held by others is not a solution.

It is a warning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQaT1m7_SLU?si=YXuggQ8hviU48Nea

Alleged Nigerian drug dealer arrested during a protest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb2GHh6N4HM?si=PnNHhmEWxDPYwX4h

Deputy President Paul Mashatile says South Africa remains open to African investment and is not anti-foreigner, but will not tolerate illegal migration.

He was speaking to SABC News on the sidelines of the World African Heritage Day celebrations in Midrand (Johannesburg), hosted by the African World Heritage Fund, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

Mashatile insists there is no xenophobia in South Africa, only opposition to illegal migration. He cautioned against lawlessness, urging citizens not to take matters into their own hands.

"Well, South Africa is not anti-foreigners. What we have been doing for years, we have been against illegal people come into our country, whether they are from Africa or anywhere in the world. It's something we will not allow, but we will not be chasing Africans for the sake of it. What we are saying is that let people come to our country. Yes, we want investments. We want to work with them to develop our own country, but must be done legally."

KLEINBASS:
And Nigerians willl never comment or condemn on this behaviour they always want to play victim, to them every body hate them but they never look in the mirror and say we are the problem where ever we go as the runaways

How can they introspect when even their media is one-sided and telling them they're victims and others are jealous of them. Just listen to the poor journalism standards on the panel in the link below. This plays on a news channel by the way where there should be a diverse offering of opinions but here you have 4 anchors echoing each other 👎🏽💩


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B_FYfloGCk?si=yjwlWJdzgy70rkHa

SA health minister on the outbreak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1aOIAkoScU?si=gD0B9zmkxiOaBP5Q

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that seven cases of hantavirus has been identified, with two laboratory confirmed cases of hantavirus and five suspected cases.

On May 2 2026, a cluster of passengers with severe respiratory illness aboard a cruise ship was reported to the WHO.

The ship is carrying a total of 147 individuals, including 88 passengers and 59 crew members, with the onboard passengers and crew representing 23 nationalities. As of Monday, seven cases have been identified, including three deaths, one critically ill patient and three individuals reporting mild symptoms.

"Illness onset occurred between 6 and 28 April 2026 and was characterised by fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, rapid progression to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and shock. Further investigations are ongoing," WHO said.

The organisation said the outbreak is being managed through a coordinated international response, and includes in-depth investigations, case isolation and care, medical evacuation and laboratory investigations.

"Human hantavirus infection is primarily acquired through contact with the urine, faeces, or saliva of infected rodents. It is a rare but severe disease that can be deadly. Although uncommon, limited human to human transmission has been reported in previous outbreaks of Andes virus (a specific species of hantavirus)."

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

Laboratory testing conducted in South Africa confirmed hantavirus infection in one patient who is critically ill and in intensive care. On May 3, one additional death was reported. A further three suspected cases remain on board. As of Monday, a total of seven (two confirmed and five suspected) cases, including three deaths, have been reported.

The vessel departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 2026 and followed an itinerary across the South Atlantic, with multiple stops in remote and ecologically diverse regions, including mainland Antarctica, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena, and Ascension Island.

It is worth noting that the extent of passenger contact with local wildlife during the voyage, or prior to boarding in Ushuaia remains undetermined. As of Monday, the vessel is moored off the coast of Cabo Verde.

BREAKDOWN OF THE CASES

Case 1: An adult male developed symptoms of fever, headache, and mild diarrhoea on April 6 2026 while on board the ship. By April 11, the case developed respiratory distress and died on board on the same day. No microbiological tests were performed. The body of the passenger was removed from the vessel to Saint Helena (a British Overseas Territory) on April 24.

Case 2: An adult female, who was a close contact of case 1, went ashore at Saint Helena on April 24 2026 with gastrointestinal symptoms. She subsequently deteriorated during a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 25. She later died upon arrival at the emergency department on 26 April. On Monday, the case was subsequently confirmed by PCR with hantavirus infection. Contact tracing for passengers on the flight has been initiated.

Cases 1 and 2, had travelled in South America, including Argentina, before they boarded the cruise ship on April 1 2026.

Case 3: An adult male presented to the ship's doctor on April 24 2026 with febrile illness, shortness of breath and signs of pneumonia. On 26 April, his condition worsened. He was medically evacuated from Ascension to South Africa on April 27, where he is currently hospitalised in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Laboratory testing on an extensive respiratory pathogen panel was negative; however, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing confirmed hantavirus infection on May 2 2026. Serology, sequencing and metagenomics are ongoing.

Case 4: An adult female, with presentation of pneumonia, died on May 2 2026. The onset of symptoms was on April 28, with fever and a general feeling of being unwell.

Three suspected cases have reported high fever and/or gastrointestinal symptoms and remain on board.

HOW HANTAVIRUS IS TRANSMITTED

• Primarily through contact with infected wild rodents
• Inhalation of airborne particles from rodent urine or droppings
• Consuming food contaminated by rodent urine or droppings
• Rarely through bites or scratches

EARLY SYMPTOMS OF HANTAVIRUS

• Fever and chills
• Headache and dizziness
• Intense muscle aches

KLEINBASS:
By Crime Desk

WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY ARE CAUGHT

Illegal entrants face deportation and a 5-year ban from South Africa for being declared undesirable. Recent court cases have added up to 2 years in prison for immigration violations alone, on top of sentences for other crimes.

I'm glad there's jail time now than just mere deportations alone. Even that 5 year ban is too lenient.

helinues:
Which could be more factual with migrants issue with a country with national identity card or the one with no national identity card?

Argue this logically

Again, one is factual and the other hypothetical. We can't be arguing hypothetically with countries that don't even have ID systems or their house in order.

helinues:
Just logical arguments, are you aware we don't have a national identity card in Nigeria!

Then let's not compare apples with oranges especially when SA speaks from a factual basis and Nigerians speak hypothetically.

helinues:
Just type how many Chadians, Nigérians, Beninonse are in Nigeria. Easy google search

Please do it for me, and quote credible sources please. Let's talk facts, not myths (which is a past time in Nigeria).

Here's that AU-IOM report that says SA is the biggest destination for African migrants.

https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/pub2023-132-r-iom-au-africa-migration-report-second-edition_0.pdf

helinues:
How can you or Au know when we don't complain about it.

As long as you a black person in Nigeria, your nationality is irrelevant

Are Ugandans and Ethiopians complaining?

My guy, where's your proof Nigeria has a worse migration crisis than SA?

helinues:
Again, that's what you South Africans don't know. The Niger, Chad even Benin people have been flocking Nigeria for decades which the government haven't considered any solutions to them apart from partial border closure. Somehow, we always see them as part of us

What you are experiencing is not up to 30% of the immigration crisis in Nigeria

Do you have an idea about how many illegal Chinese, India, Lebanese in Nigeria? hahah they are even controlling some natural resources

I'm quoting facts from AU and International Organization for Migration and they don't mention Nigeria. Instead you're a net exporter of migrants.

What supports your argument that immigration crisis in Nigeria is worse than SA's?

helinues:
The protest in Nigeria, what have they always been about? Are they about foreigners should leave our country because they are taking our jobs?

Do you have an illegal migration crisis similar to South Africa's? AU-IOM reports show SA hosts 20% of Africa's migrants, followed by CIV, Uganda and Ethiopia.

So you can't compare SA to Nigeria. Please rest your mouth and fingers on this matter.

IronGalaxy:
Their obsession with the word "lazy" is mind-boggling..its as if is the first English word they learn at school

It's mind boggling.

Same as with this helinues who wants to claim Nigerians don't protest on weekdays because they're the most productive people on earth and there are no unemployed people in japageria.

EponObi:
He can leak votes from SA to the Strait of Hormuz. Who cares?

He spoke and I quoted him.

Again, thank you for your attention on this matter.

You should care because soon you won't have a spokesperson whose insults you can quote.

Shalom, happy visa hunting for the rest of your day.

EponObi:
Direct your complaint to Julius Malema.

Thank you for your attention on this matter.

Julius Malema who's bleeding votes🇳🇬👎🏽? Who else is your spokesperson in SA, I wanna direct the matter to them instead.

Kindly assist, dear.

EponObi:
.

If you are planning on going to SA for vacation, business, or whatever, you better skip. Those lazy SA guys no longer listen to Julius Malema, after telling them black foreigners are not their problem; that they themselves are lazy and don't work If you enter SA and they knack you wetin no good, you go use am hold body like that ni ooo. That's if there's anything left of your body.

And you wonder why South Africans don't like you - full of insults. As if Nigeria is the most developed country in all of Africa and whole wide world coz apparently everyone else is "lazy".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUgf-CIyQ8s?si=l7uaNdpoyDfpeaA6

Nigeria is taking steps to facilitate the permanent repatriation of its citizens from South Africa, a move that signals growing alarm over escalating anti-migrant sentiments and a climate that is becoming increasingly hostile for foreign nationals.

The announcement follows weeks of mounting tension, with protests targeting foreign nationals and renewed concern over the treatment of undocumented immigrants.

Although Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has maintained there is no accurate estimate of Nigerians living in the country illegally, reports in 2023 suggested that more than 500,000 Nigerians may be undocumented.

VIDEO: How many undocumented foreign nationals are in SA?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTYdRJYNmL0?si=cOdB6EhZdqDXFkWt

Frank Onyekwelu, president of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), confirmed that the Nigerian Consulate is working closely with the organisation to assist those seeking to return home.

“The Nigerian Consulate in conjunction with NICASA has offered a free repatriation flight to any Nigerian who wishes to leave South Africa permanently, and the process is ongoing,” he said, adding that several individuals have already registered.

Many Nigerians have long viewed South Africa as a land of opportunity, but that promise is now increasingly overshadowed by fear.

Nigeria’s move to repatriate some of its citizens from South Africa comes against a backdrop of escalating tensions, violent unrest and increasingly hostile rhetoric directed at foreign nationals, particularly Nigerians, across parts of the country.

In recent weeks, a series of flashpoints has underscored just how volatile the situation has become.

In the Eastern Cape, violence erupted in KuGompo after protests over the alleged coronation of a Nigerian traditional leader spiralled into chaos. Vehicles were damaged, buildings set alight and police were forced to intervene.

The unrest prompted the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria to issue a stark warning, urging its citizens to “maintain a low profile at all times”, suspend social gatherings and avoid public demonstrations amid what it described as “palpable tension”.

Diplomatic strain has also begun to surface. Last month, Ghana summoned South Africa’s top envoy after a video circulated online showing a Ghanaian man being confronted and asked to produce immigration documents.

On the ground, anti-immigration movements have gained momentum.

Groups such as March and March have staged protests demanding the removal of foreign nationals from township economies, while Operation Dudula has intensified campaigns targeting foreign-owned businesses, often forcing shop closures and fueling confrontations.

The rhetoric has drawn sharp political responses.

Addressing supporters during a Workers’ Day rally in Marikana, EFF leader Julius Malema criticised the protests, warning that they risk misdirecting public anger.

“Let’s ask a question: after you march and say you don’t want Zimbabweans, Nigerians, and Ghanaians, you close their shops. Why are you then not telling us that you expelled 10 Zimbabweans and were able to give jobs to 10 South Africans,” he said.

Meanwhile, inflammatory content circulating on social media has further heightened tensions.

In one widely shared video, three Nigerian men are seen stomping on a South African flag while waving their own. In the footage, one of the men declares: “We love our country... leave us alone… stop killing our men.”

The video has sparked outrage and added fuel to an already charged environment.

Amid the rising tensions, President Cyril Ramaphosa used his recent May Day address to urge calm, calling on citizens to raise concerns about illegal migration through lawful channels rather than resorting to vigilantism.

"We did not walk alone into freedom. We were carried by a tide of solidarity from the nations of Africa, among many others," Ramaphosa said.

"These countries opened their borders to our liberation fighters. They shared their bread and their homes. They spoke for us when we could not speak for ourselves. The leaders and people of Africa kept our Struggle alive," Ramaphosa said.

Onyekwelu admitted that South Africa, like many nations around the world, has real problems with crime, unemployment, border security, and the strain on public resources.

“However, it is dangerous and unfair to reduce these complex socio-economic issues to anti-foreigner sentiments or to create the impression that foreign nationals are the primary cause of the country’s problems.”

“We Took Our Protest To The South African High Commission In Abuja… But The Ambassador Refused To Face Us Even With Heavy Police Presence, Cites Fear.” pic.twitter.com/MEq39CE6oX

— Somto Okonkwo (@General_Somto) May 1, 2026

A group of Nigerians staged a protest outside the South African High Commission in Abuja, calling for the protection of Nigerians living in South Africa amid rising tensions and anti-foreigner sentiments. A clip circulating on social media shows a small group of about 12 people requesting a message with the ambassador outside the High Commission. The group claimed that they had come peacefully to deliver a message. The group was denied entry Security and police barricaded the SA High Commission building in Abuja, preventing the group from entering, an action which they found offensive.

“We are just twelve of us, but the High Commissioner said she is afraid to come out and engage with us and would rather come back later “I didn’t know these people are cowards like this," one of the protesters said. Addressing police officers stationed at the premises, one protester added:

“We just want her to know that we want them to protect our people over there.” They insisted their action was not a protest but a “notice,” alleging that “South Africans are killing Nigerians.” After a back-and-forth with officials who told them they needed to book an appointment, the group eventually dispersed.

The demonstration comes as the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has raised alarm over what it describes as worsening hostility toward Nigerians and other black immigrants in parts of South Africa.

In a statement, NIDCOM Chairperson/CEO Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa said there were growing reports of fear and insecurity among Nigerian nationals. The commission said reports indicate that some Nigerian-descended pupils are afraid to attend school, while business owners are reportedly staying away from their shops due to fears of targeted attacks, looting, and harassment.

NIDCOM also stressed that it rejects any form of profiling or collective blame against Nigerians. “Crime has no nationality. Any individual, regardless of origin, who commits an offence should be investigated and made to face the full penalty of South African law,” the statement read. It further warned that “collective punishment and blanket labelling of an entire nationality are unacceptable and dangerous.”

PulaPower:
How credible is the news?

Did it happen for real?

🤷🏾‍♂️ Don't know.

franchasofficia:
See them black xenophobes chesting out as if they ever made any meaningful contribution towards making South Africa a moderately developing country it is.

They even tried this xenophobic attack against whites and they chased them away and they never tried the nonsense again

South Africa was made what it is today by White South Africans but see the black South Africans fighting to destroy what White South Africans built.

Whites this, whites that. Go home and fix your country.

SA has had a black government for 32 years that has ensured we don't become a Nigeria with japa syndrome.