The Federal Government has announced that the sixth and final evacuation flight bringing Nigerians home from South Africa will arrive next week, marking the end of its voluntary repatriation programme launched amid rising anti-immigrant protests.
The announcement came as the fifth batch of evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday night, with 282 Nigerians onboard an Air Peace flight.
The flight was initially scheduled to arrive on Wednesday but was delayed due to technical issues affecting the aircraft.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, confirmed the latest arrival and said the total number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has now reached 1,141.
The evacuation exercise began in early June following a wave of anti-migrant demonstrations in parts of South Africa that raised serious concerns over the safety of foreign nationals. Several African countries, including Malawi, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mozambique, and Ghana, also launched voluntary repatriation programmes for their citizens wishing to leave South Africa.
The unrest has strained diplomatic relations between South Africa and several African nations. While allegations persist that foreign nationals have been deliberately targeted during the protests, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected those claims.
There have also been conflicting reports over fatalities linked to the unrest. Although some reports suggest several people have died during the violence, South African authorities have denied those claims, prompting renewed calls for an independent investigation.
Meanwhile, the anti-immigration protests have intensified. According to Reuters, protesters in Johannesburg have begun conducting door-to-door searches for undocumented migrants, handing some individuals over to the police.
Witnesses reported that protesters forced their way into homes in the Alexandra township, removing suspected undocumented immigrants. Among those taken into police custody were a Malawian woman and her young child, while another man reportedly detained was said to be legally resident in South Africa.
The protest movement, led by former radio presenter Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has vowed to continue demonstrations every Thursday until its demands are met. Protesters are calling for stricter border controls, mass deportations of undocumented migrants, and priority access to public services for South African citizens.
President Ramaphosa has condemned attacks on foreign nationals and urged citizens not to take the law into their own hands as tensions continue across parts of the country.
