Today, April 27, 2026, South Africa celebrates Freedom Day — the anniversary of the country’s first democratic elections that ended Apartheid in 1994. But for thousands of Nigerian and African immigrants living in South Africa right now, there is very little to celebrate.
GossipShop brings you the full picture of what is happening on the ground today.
What is Happening Right Now
Officials anticipate further protests in Gauteng Province from April 27 to 29, coinciding with Freedom Day. mygossipshop Anti-immigrant groups have chosen this symbolic date — Freedom Day itself — to intensify their campaign against African migrants across the country.
Nigeria’s Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has urged Nigerians in South Africa to obey local laws, stay informed through news updates, and avoid protest zones. mygossipshop
If you are Nigerian and living in South Africa right now — this is not the time to be complacent.
How It Started — The Nigerian King Controversy
The unrest began when the local Nigerian Igbo community in KuGompo (formerly East London) installed Solomon Ogbonna Eziko as “Eze Ndi Igbo East London” — King of the Igbo People in East London. In reaction to what is in fact a common practice among Igbos outside their southeast Nigerian heartland, outraged locals took out their anger on Nigerian businesses and individuals of Nigerian descent. Dailymediang
What started as a local dispute quickly spread into something much bigger.
Durban — Businesses Shut, Immigrants Living in Fear
Anti-immigrant group March and March have been running campaigns for almost two weeks in Durban. While some days have been peaceful, with participants street sweeping and picking up litter, some days have seen immigrants being assaulted, “citizen arrests” of people alleged to be undocumented, and shopkeepers closing their stores out of fear. mygossipshop
An Ethiopian business owner who asked to remain anonymous said that his shops collectively employ 400 people. mygossipshop His businesses have been forced to close. “Who’s going to feed these people?” he asked.
Johannesburg — Marchers Fight Back
Not all South Africans are supporting the anti-immigrant movement. More than 150 people gathered at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Johannesburg, holding placards reading “No person is illegal”, “Blaming migrants is not the answer”, and “Africa for Africans.” They marched to Constitution Hill in Braamfontein calling for an end to xenophobia, corruption and the scapegoating of immigrants. mygossipshop
Lawyers for Human Rights’ Sharon Ekambaran said: “There is no research to show that migrants are taking resources away from South African workers. In fact, they bring their culture, their diversity, to enrich our country.” Wikipedia
A National Shutdown Planned for May 4
The situation is set to escalate further. One chilling message from a group organizing a national shutdown for May 4, 2026 read: “We are xenophobic. We want all foreigners, documented or not, out of this country.” European Commission
This is not just street anger anymore. It is becoming an organised movement targeting every African immigrant in South Africa — documented or not.
Nigeria and Ghana Hit Back Diplomatically
Both Nigeria and Ghana have now taken the matter to diplomatic level.
Ghana summoned South Africa’s acting High Commissioner over what it called a series of xenophobic incidents targeting foreign nationals including Ghanaians, after videos circulated online showing migrants being harassed and told to leave the country. Center For Global Development
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa reminded Pretoria of Accra’s support for the anti-apartheid struggle and stressed that attacks on law-abiding foreigners were contrary to the principles of African solidarity. Center For Global Development
The irony is painful — the same continent that stood together to fight Apartheid is now watching African countries attack each other’s citizens on South African streets.
The Real Problem — Unemployment, Not Immigrants
South Africa’s official unemployment rate stood at 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, with youth unemployment at 43.8% — among the highest in the world. Center For Global Development
KAAX, which organised the anti-xenophobia march, stated: “The real crisis lies in systemic corruption, failing governance and an inhumane capitalist system that prioritises profit over people.” mygossipshop
Immigrants are not causing South Africa’s unemployment. A broken government system is. But it is always easier to blame the stranger than to fix the system.
What Nigerian Immigrants Are Saying
Isabel Moyo from Zimbabwe said immigrants in her community in central Johannesburg struggle to access vital medication at clinics and hospitals. She said immigrants are not in South Africa to take jobs from locals but to start businesses that provide services to the community. “We want to be given an opportunity to work together with locals and to live in peace and harmony.” mygossipshop
Theodora Faith Kaisi from Malawi said: “Employers take advantage of our desperation to overwork and underpay us due to lack of proper documents. We plead with the South African government to give us documents.” mygossipshop
The Apartheid Parallel
Here is what makes this deeply troubling. South Africa built its entire post-1994 identity on fighting the injustice of Apartheid — a system that told people they did not belong based on where they came from.
During Apartheid, white capitalists used discrimination and oppression to exploit Black workers and make huge profits from their labour, both from South Africa and other countries. Bantustans and pass laws treated Black South Africans as foreigners, restricting where they could live. scoophub
Today, the same logic is being applied to African immigrants. Different skin colour. Same dehumanisation.
What Should Nigerian and African Immigrants in South Africa Do Right Now?
Given that protests are expected through April 29 and a national shutdown is planned for May 4, here is urgent practical advice:
GossipShop’s Opinion
Freedom Day in South Africa is supposed to celebrate the end of a system that told people they did not belong. But in 2026, a new version of that same message is being delivered to Nigerian and African immigrants on the streets of Durban, Johannesburg and beyond.
The world is watching. Nigeria is watching. Ghana is watching.
And GossipShop will keep reporting the truth.
- ⚠️ Avoid protest zones in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg city centre
- ⚠️ Keep your documents on you at all times — passport, permit, work visa
- ⚠️ Do not engage with anti-immigrant groups or vigilantes
- ⚠️ Contact the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria if you are attacked or threatened
- ⚠️ Stay informed — follow GossipShop for daily updates
- ⚠️ Avoid travelling alone at night in high tension areas
Are you a Nigerian living in South Africa? Share your experience in the comments below or send us a message. Your story matters.
