Outrage Grows as South Africa Immigration Crackdown Sparks Tension Over Migrant Arrests

(Nigerians And Other Africans. Photo by X.com)

A video making the rounds online shows South African officials detaining African migrants, including Nigerians, at an informal market, sparking widespread outrage over what many have described as dehumanising treatment.

The development follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s five-point plan to tackle illegal migration, with police operations such as Operation Shanela reportedly arr£sting over 2,399 undocumented migrants in a single week.

The footage has drawn sharp reactions from Nigerians, who have condemned the treatment as xenophobic and called for either the repatriation of affected citizens or retaliatory measures.

South Africans, however, have largely defended the crackdown, framing it as a targeted effort against individuals allegedly involved in drug peddling and the illegal sale of regulated HIV medications.

Both governments have called for adherence to legal processes in handling the situation, as a June 30 deadline looms over the ongoing migration dispute.

Moment Some Nigerians And Other Africans Were Rounded Up In South Africa💔🤦🏾‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/MEv5FwGhUp

— Somto Okonkwo (@General_Somto) June 10, 2026