South African mayor orders screening of Nigerians and other foreigners amid xenophobia.

Durban Mayor Cyril Xaba has directed that Nigerian and other African nationals be transferred to a screening centre for verification of their legal status in South Africa.

The operation, carried out on Thursday, involved buses transporting foreign nationals from the Diakonia Centre in Durban’s central business district to a designated refugee reception facility where immigration documents were formally processed.

Videos that circulated online showed African migrants being escorted into buses by South African law‑enforcement officials, sparking widespread reactions on social media.

The development comes amid a resurgence of anti‑foreigner campaigns in parts of South Africa, where some groups continue to protest against the presence of migrants from other African countries.

Confirming the incident, Smart Nwobi, President of the Nigerian Union South Africa, said the relocation was prompted by mounting pressure from residents.

He added that municipal authorities had prevented the situation from escalating into violence or disorder.

South African media reports indicate that the screening exercise followed findings that only two out of hundreds of migrants in KwaZulu‑Natal possessed valid legal documentation.

eNCA reported on Friday that the Department of Home Affairs in KwaZulu‑Natal processed 457 migrants and found only two to be legally residing in the country.

The report said the discovery prompted Durban authorities to begin a similar verification process for foreign nationals who had moved into shelters after seeking protection from anti‑migrant groups.

There has also been speculation that the killing of crime activist and traditional healer Thato Molosankwe may have intensified recent anti‑foreigner demonstrations.

Molosankwe was shot dead at his residence in Lomanyaneng village in Mahikeng on Wednesday morning, prompting police authorities to launch a manhunt for those responsible.

The post Xenophobia: S’African mayor orders screening of Nigerians, others appeared first on Vanguard News.