The mayor of Durban’s municipality, , has ordered the relocation of Nigerians and other African nationals to a screening centre for verification of their immigration status amid rising anti-foreigner tensions in .
On Thursday, buses arranged by the municipality moved foreign nationals from the Diakonia Centre in Durban’s central business district to a refugee reception facility where their documents would be formally processed.
Videos circulating online showed law enforcement officials escorting migrants into the buses, sparking widespread reactions on social media.
The development comes amid ongoing anti-foreigner campaigns that have intensified across parts of South Africa since the beginning of the year, with some locals accusing foreign nationals of contributing to crime and economic hardship.
Reacting to the incident, the President of the Nigerian Union South Africa, , said authorities acted under pressure from residents demanding the removal of migrants. He added, however, that municipal officials succeeded in preventing the situation from degenerating into violence.
According to South African media reports, immigration authorities in KwaZulu-Natal recently processed 457 migrants, with only two reportedly found to possess valid legal documentation.
The report is believed to have influenced Durban authorities to intensify the screening of foreign nationals who had taken refuge in shelters following threats from anti-migrant groups.
Meanwhile, tensions reportedly escalated further after the killing of crime activist and traditional healer, , who was shot dead at his residence in Lomanyaneng village near Mahikeng on Wednesday morning.
The acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, , directed the North West provincial command to deploy maximum resources to track down those responsible for the killing.
Police reports indicated that Molosankwe sustained multiple gunshot wounds, while investigations into the murder are ongoing.
Despite growing fears among foreign nationals, Nigerians living in KwaZulu-Natal told Diaspora Tales that the June 30, 2026 deadline reportedly issued for foreign Africans to leave parts of South Africa remains unchanged.
Some residents said tensions were still high, with many South Africans insisting that foreign nationals were prospering at the expense of locals.
A Nigerian lawyer identified simply as Okeke said Nigerians and other African nationals remained uneasy as anti-foreigner sentiments persisted in several communities.
He added that security agencies were monitoring the situation closely to ensure the safety of migrants living in the area.
