Pockets of violence and heightened tension were recorded in parts of South Africa yesterday as the Federal Government repatriated another 271 Nigerians back to the country.

In South Africa, the March and March anti-illegal immigrant protests were held nationwide. The police, heavily deployed to hotspots, had a busy day intervening in several tense incidents to prevent confrontations between protesters and foreign nationals.

The evacuation flight departed Johannesburg aboard Air Peace’s flagship Boeing 777-200 aircraft and landed safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, at 10:35 a.m. The operation brings the total number of Nigerians evacuated to 601.

The government warned Nigerians, including the returnees, against going back to the Southern African country.

The government observed that the experiences of Nigerians in South Africa were traumatic and life-threatening after losing businesses, investments and personal belongings while fleeing to safety.

Speaking with journalists shortly after their arrival, several of the evacuees said they returned to Nigeria with almost nothing, having abandoned years of investments to escape the attacks.

One of the returnees, Emmanuela Akagosu, said she was forced to leave behind everything she had built since relocating to South Africa in 2017.

She regretted relocating to the country about nine years ago, saying that many Nigerians in South Africa live in constant fear of attacks.

“My experience in South Africa was not good at all. They are not accommodating. They see Nigerians as hardworking and enterprising, so they feel threatened by us.

“South Africa is not a safe place. They keep telling us, ‘Amber, Amber,’ meaning we should leave or be killed. They threatened to kill us if we refused to leave. The last time they attacked the complex where I lived, I escaped only because I was not at home,” she said.

Another returnee, Sandy Oris, from Anambra State, described his decision to spend 14 years in South Africa as one of his greatest regrets.

He said repeated attacks culminated in the destruction and looting of his business, leaving him with nothing.

“They destroyed my shop and carted away all my goods. I came back to Nigeria with nothing,” he lamented.

Oris appealed to the Federal Government to provide support for the returnees, noting that many were now stranded.

He vowed never to leave Nigeria again, expressing confidence that he could rebuild his life at home.

Meanwhile, the Edo State government has commenced arrangements to receive and reintegrate its indigenes among the returnees.

The Director General of the Edo State Migration Agency, Lucky Agazuma, said the state government had put measures in place to support the returnees.

Also speaking, a representative of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Dipo Odebowale, disclosed that several individuals and organisations had offered financial assistance to the evacuees.

According to him, a church has donated N100,000 to each returnee, while Pastor Bolaji Idowu also contributed N100,000 per person.

He added that MTN provided N100,000 and N50,000 in recharge cards to each of the returnees to support their immediate resettlement.

MEANWHILE, the Federal Government has said that it plans to engage South African authorities to seek compensation for Nigerians who abandoned businesses and properties while fleeing recent anti-immigrant protests in the country.

Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, disclosed this yesterday on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, saying returnees had begun documenting assets left behind ahead of compensation talks with South African officials.

Many migrants who travelled to South Africa in search of better opportunities say they are now living in fear as hostility towards foreign nationals intensifies.

Protesters argue that undocumented migrants are taking jobs from South Africans, placing pressure on healthcare services and schools, and failing to contribute to the economy through taxes.

SA govt sets aside R600 million for police protection of protest hotspots
One of the most dramatic scenes was recorded in Germiston, where South African Police Service (SAPS) officers took a man who identified himself as a Malawian national into protective custody after an angry crowd surrounded him.

In KwaZulu-Natal, police arrested seven suspects in separate incidents linked to crimes targeting foreign nationals, including tuck shop break-ins, robbery, intimidation and the assault of police officers.

Despite the heavy toll on commercial activities in major cities, the government has repeatedly ruled out a shutdown and urged the public to refrain from criminal activity during protests. A total of R600 million was set aside to deploy police members to protest hotspots.

The March and March group, and over 20 civic organisations, embarked on national protests against illegal immigration across the country. The deadline, which was imposed on undocumented foreigners, left many stranded and fearful that they could be victims of xenophobic attacks.

Various nations, including Malawi, Ghana and Nigeria, have initiated repatriation procedures for citizens who want to leave South Africa.

Malawian man taken into protective custody
Speaking to eNCA while being escorted by police, the man said he had simply been on his way to buy food when he found himself caught in the middle of the protests.

“I am hungry. I was just going to buy food,” he told the broadcaster.

A police officer at the scene explained that the man was being removed from the area for his own safety as tensions continued to rise.

The officer said police would verify whether the man was legally documented and that he would be detained if he was unable to produce the required immigration documents.

As officers led him into a police van, members of the crowd chanted “Abahambe” (meaning, ‘they must go’) while police maintained a security cordon to prevent the situation from escalating.

In a separate incident in Germiston, protesters reportedly identified another foreign national and handed him over to police.

According to eNCA’s reporting, members of the crowd grabbed a Zimbabwean man by his dreadlocks before police intervened. The man later showed journalists his passport, indicating that he was legally documented.

Stone-throwing incident raises tensions in Johannesburg
Elsewhere in Johannesburg, tensions flared when residents of nearby flats allegedly threw stones and bottles at anti-illegal immigration marchers making their way towards the Kwa Mai Mai meeting point.

Police intervened to separate the groups and restore order before the confrontation escalated further. At the time of publication, authorities had not confirmed any injuries or arrests linked to the incident.

The incidents highlight the volatile atmosphere surrounding anti-illegal immigration protests taking place across South Africa.

SAPS has maintained a visible presence at several protest sites, with officers working to prevent violence, protect members of the public and enforce immigration laws where necessary.

Pretoria
March and March in Pretoria vowed that their demonstrations, with members carrying sjamboks and knopkies at Church Square, would not turn violent.

The demonstrations come amid growing concerns about the safety and well-being of foreign nationals as anti-illegal immigration protests continue to escalate.

At the Pretoria CBD, there was a heavy police presence on the streets. At Church Square, protesters had already begun gathering and singing struggle songs.

Some were seen holding placards reading “It’s time to stand together”, while others sang and carried sjamboks and knopkieries.

More than four nyalas were deployed at the scene, alongside police vehicles and motorbikes, as law enforcement remained on standby.

The group of protesters included members of March and March, the MK Party, ActionSA and Operation Dudula. As singing continued, more groups arrived at the scene.

Speaking to IOL News on the sidelines of the protest, the convener of March and March in Pretoria, Simon Malebe, said the purpose of the march was to follow up on a memorandum previously submitted.

“We gave a memorandum previously where we were raising a number of issues,” he said.

“Number one is legal concerns, number two is the economy of the country, where foreign shop owners are running businesses and not banking, opening shops in our communities.”

He alleged that undocumented foreign nationals were contributing to crime and harming communities.

“Since they started this, how many people have died in terms of the snacks they are selling, killing kids. We are tired of these foreigners,” he said.

He added that the group was calling for only foreign nationals with scarce skills to remain in South Africa.

“If you are a foreigner and you have a scarce skill, then it is fine. But if you do not have skills, you are taking opportunities from South Africans,” he said.

Seven arrested in KZN
KwaZulu-Natal police arrested five suspects in connection with break-ins at tuck shops owned by foreign nationals, where various items were stolen.

Three of the suspects were caught allegedly stealing goods by private security officers, who handed them over to police. They were subsequently charged.

Two additional suspects were arrested at the Madiba informal settlement in Mountain Rise.

In a separate incident, a suspect was arrested in Thubalethu township, Melmoth, for house robbery. Police alleged that he entered a homestead, threatened foreign nationals with a stick and stole their belongings.

Police also arrested a woman on charges of assaulting police officers and intimidation after officers responded to reports that a foreign national was being assaulted by a group of people at the Burnwood Kwalimaza informal settlement in Sydenham.

A man was also arrested for intimidation during the same incident. Police said all the arrested suspects are expected to appear in court soon.

Chidimma Adetshina
In a related development, the former Miss South Africa finalist and Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, is once again at the centre of an immigration battle in South Africa.

The beauty queen is facing possible deportation after being arrested over allegations that she is living in the country illegally. She is now challenging the move as the matter continues in court.

Adetshina’s legal troubles follow the arrest of her mother, Anabela Rungo, in 2025 for allegedly violating the Immigration Act and the Identification Act. Chidimma Adetshina made her first appearance in the Cape Town Regional Court on 9 June 2026 after immigration officials arrested her at her family home in Summer Greens.

Following her court appearance, Adetshina was released on warning while the case continues.

She is expected back in court on 16 July, when the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is set to continue its bid to have her deported.

As part of her release conditions, she was ordered to remain at the address where she was arrested and must inform the investigating immigration officer of any changes to her residence, employment or travel while the case is pending.