Xenophobia Wahala: Many Nigerians Wan Leave South Africa, Repatriation Flight Dey Ready

Amid the rising violence and xenophobic attacks in South Africa, the Nigerian Consulate in the country, in collaboration with the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, has offered a free repatriation flight to Nigerians willing to return home permanently. The President of NICASA, Frank Onyekwelu, who spoke to PUNCH, acknowledged that the situation had forced many Nigerians to shut their shops and businesses. According to him, there is currently no structured support system in place for affected Nigerians, but the consulate’s intervention is already providing an option for those who wish to leave. Onyekwelu said many Nigerians were already indicating interest in returning home. e said, “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 as we have recorded many Nigerians signalling interest to return home.” SaharaReporters on Friday reported that the leader of the South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, strongly criticised the wave of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals, including Nigerians, challenging perpetrators to justify their actions with tangible economic outcomes. Speaking amid rising tensions, Malema questioned the rationale behind violent campaigns against immigrants, particularly claims that foreign nationals are responsible for unemployment in South Africa. "You say Zimbabweans take your job, Nigerians take your jobs and you March and close shops and beat up people, tell us after doing all this, how many jobs have you created." His remarks come at a time when Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa have reported renewed harassment, intimidation, and violent attacks, with businesses looted and communities destabilised. Malema had further criticised the destruction of immigrant-owned businesses, arguing that such actions only worsen unemployment rather than solve it. "You have beaten them, you have taken them out of the country, how many jobs have you created from it. You close a shop that hires five people and you say they take our jobs. After closing that shop, how many jobs have you created." The EFF leader also took aim at individuals driving the attacks, describing them as lacking the capacity to address the country’s economic challenges constructively. "Unskilled men, with no skill, none whatsoever, the only skill they have is to drink and they want to pretend like they are revolutionaries. " Distancing himself from populist rhetoric that promotes hostility toward other Africans, Malema emphasised that he would not seek political support based on division and hatred. "I don't want votes that say to me, I must hate Africans for you to vote for me." Malema’s comments add a political dimension to the growing crisis, which has already drawn sharp reactions from Nigerian authorities. Earlier, the Nigerian government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, condemned the South African government’s handling of the attacks. In a statement signed by its Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the commission described the situation as worsening despite prior diplomatic engagements between both countries. “While many expected a de-escalation of tensions following earlier engagements between both governments, the situation on the ground is deteriorating,” Dabiri-Erewa said. She revealed that children of Nigerian descent in affected areas are increasingly afraid to attend school, while many business owners have shut down operations over fears of looting and targeted violence. According to her, reports received by the commission indicated fresh incidents of violence and intimidation within a 72-hour period leading up to Wednesday, with community leaders documenting multiple cases.