Frank Onyekwelu, the National President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), reports that local South African communities are starting to experience the negative economic fallout caused by the closure of foreign-owned businesses. Despite ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions, Nigerian nationals continue to face hostility.
During an appearance on Channels Television, Onyekwelu explained that the departure of foreign entrepreneurs has created service voids. Local residents now face difficulties accessing affordable goods, forcing them to travel further or shop at expensive supermarkets. The drop in commercial activity has also hindered cash flow and public transportation use, leaving many locals struggling to pay their own bills.
Onyekwelu noted that although intense protests have subsided since the June 30 deadline, smaller demonstrations persist on a weekly basis. He expressed concern that some politicians are exploiting public anger to win votes, using migrants as scapegoats. Furthermore, he highlighted that the lack of legal consequences for those who loot and destroy property has emboldened attackers.
Many Nigerians have been forced to abandon their homes and investments, with some joining the 1,500 people already evacuated from the country. NICASA is currently documenting these financial losses to present to the Nigerian government for diplomatic intervention. Onyekwelu firmly rejected attempts to justify these losses by labeling Nigerian-owned property as criminal, emphasizing that nationality should not be equated with illicit activity.
He concluded by urging the South African government to focus on domestic issues like unemployment and poor infrastructure rather than targeting African migrants. He noted that Nigerians contribute heavily to the professional sectors in South Africa, including healthcare and business, and argued that the current wave of violence is a specific form of Afrophobia that ignores the contributions of African nationals.
