AOL.com- Anti-immigration protests cranked up in South Africa this year, leading to tens of thousands of foreigners leaving the country over the past two months.
- Nigerian Richard Itoro boarded a voluntary repatriation flight to Nigeria in June, leaving his wife and twin children behind due to safety concerns amid the protests.
- Emmanuel Asamoah returned to Ghana after being confronted by South Africans who told him he was not wanted, and he has since opened a cement business with support from a Ghanaian businessman.
- Richard Itoro built a car-dealership business and created a family in Johannesburg over more than 15 years, but now feels that all is lost due to the protests.
- The death of a Nigerian during a police arrest over suspected drug offences has raised tensions, with an independent body now investigating the incident.
- South Africa's high jobless rate, standing at more than 30%, is seen as a factor fueling the tension against immigrants.
- Asamoah insists he had legal permission to stay in South Africa, stating, "I was not illegal. I was legal in South Africa."
Richard Itoro, a Nigerian businessman, left South Africa in June, fearing for his safety amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment. "If I go home and start all over again, it's better than being here, being harassed, being scared for my life," he said, reflecting on leaving his family behind.24
Tens of thousands of foreigners have fled South Africa recently, driven by protests targeting undocumented migrants. South Africa's jobless rate exceeds 30%, exacerbating tensions as locals blame immigrants for job scarcity.
Emmanuel Asamoah, a Ghanaian who sought opportunity in South Africa, faced hostility and returned home to start a cement business. "I was not illegal. I was legal in South Africa," he insisted, highlighting the challenges faced by migrants.37
The protests intensified following the death of a Nigerian during a police operation, prompting calls for stricter immigration enforcement. Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs noted that even those with legal status have faced violence, stating, "We have records of Nigerians who have legitimate papers to remain in South Africa, yet they have been attacked."5
As tensions rise, South African officials maintain that the country must enforce its immigration laws while also advocating for Pan-African unity. President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the need for legitimate immigration, stating, "We say South Africa is open to our brothers on the continent but come here legitimately. Come with your papers."
“Asamoah, who settled in Soweto in 2023, was confronted on video by a woman saying "we don't want you here"; he insists he was legal. The death last week of a Nigerian killed during a police arrest over suspected drug offences is now being investigated by an independent body.”
