Xenophobia: More Nigerians Killed In South Africa

Two more Nigerians have lost their lives in separate incidents linked to the ongoing wave of xenophobic violence in South Africa, according to the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg.

The consulate confirmed that the victims, identified as Emeka Iroegbu and Musa Joe, were both killed on June 28 in different parts of the country.

According to the consulate, Musa Joe was reportedly killed by suspected criminals in Witbank, located in Mpumalanga Province.

Emeka Iroegbu, on the other hand, allegedly died after being tortured by officers of the Tshwane Metro Police in Sunnyside, Pretoria. The Nigerian mission stated that he was subjected to severe torture while in the custody of the security operatives, leading to his death.

The latest killings come as tensions continue to rise following renewed anti-foreigner protests in South Africa.

The South African government has also rejected Nigeria’s request for compensation for citizens who abandoned their homes, businesses and other properties while fleeing the recent attacks.

So far, at least 859 Nigerians have been evacuated from South Africa since the “March and March” group intensified protests against foreign nationals.

The group had issued a June 30, 2026 deadline for foreigners, particularly undocumented migrants, to leave the country.

Although South African authorities have distanced themselves from the activities of the group, many affected Nigerians believe the government has not done enough to guarantee their safety.

The Nigerian government had earlier announced plans to seek compensation for citizens affected by the attacks.

Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, disclosed that the Federal Government had begun documenting losses suffered by Nigerians as part of efforts to pursue compensation discussions.

However, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, rejected the proposal during a press briefing, maintaining that the government would not compensate anyone for properties abandoned during the violence.

She also made allegations linking some Nigerians to illegal drug operations, stating, “We’ll be interested to know where the drug dens of Nigerians are. So they can show us where they have been holding the drugs so that we can clean the drugs in South Africa quite urgently.”