Alert No 04 /2026 15 September 2026
Xenophobia causes SA-Nigeria
tensions; threatens Nov 4 elections
(400 words)
·
Recent and ongoing xenophobic
violence in South Africa – spearheaded by groups like Operation Dudula and
March & March - are causing serious tensions between SA and Nigeria following
the deaths of two Nigerian nationals in SA and the expulsion of many more.
Relations between the two African economic powerhouse countries have been poor
or strained in the past over other issues; this is seriously aggravating it.
·
In response to the most recent
events, Nigeria's parliament has suspended official visits and legislative
engagements with South Africa over attacks on African migrants in general and
on its nationals in particular. Nigeria's Foreign Ministry has separately
raised the alarm following the deaths of the two Nigerian nationals in South
Africa this month. One was allegedly killed following abusive police
interrogation in Cape Town. Police have so far not commented. Nigeria has
demanded the deaths be investigated but so far SA has not responded.
·
This is shifting xenophobia from a
domestic policing and social-cohesion problem into a foreign-policy and national
reputational risk. It could potentially negatively affect the many South
African business that have a well-established presence in Nigeria.
·
Other SA business interests are also
already affected. For instance, hospitality group Southern Sun has reported that
the heightened anti-immigrant activities in South Africa in the first half of
the year has hurt transient travel, with people from SADC countries being
afraid of visiting SA.
·
The
situation could also negatively affect South Africa’s local government
elections. With campaigning already dominated by living costs, service-delivery
failures and political violence, anti-foreigner mobilisation could become
attractive to some actors, as seen earlier this year in the case of ActionSA.
This risks further violence and could complicate Pretoria’s relations with one
of Africa’s largest economies.
·
Meanwhile,
Africa is watching as legal and undocumented immigrants from numerous African
countries face violence and the seizure or destruction of property. Yet
government has not acted decisively against those responsible for these illegal
attacks and expulsions. This month, March & March protested in Durban
against Congolese asylum seekers fleeing poverty, unemployment, violence and
the destructive war in eastern Congo.
·
A further
complication is that some foreign nationals — particularly from one country —
are heavily involved in drug dealing, prostitution and human trafficking
networks across major South African cities, amid allegations of police bribery.
Yet groups such as March & March have largely not targeted them, focusing
instead on law-abiding foreigners with jobs and businesses or genuine asylum
seekers (this is not to say there are no illegal immigrants taking jobs away
from South Africans).
