The Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg has condemned the killing of two Nigerians, Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew, by personnel of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in Port Elizabeth.
Ramaphosa calls for respect
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged Nigerians and other foreign nationals residing in the country to respect the laws, customs, and traditions of South Africa.
Consul-General Ninikanwa Okey-Uche stated that the killings have raised further questions about the safety of Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa. She noted that the separate incidents have left bereaved families, the Nigerian community, and diplomatic missions in shock.
Okey-Uche highlighted the danger of generalizing and tagging innocent Nigerians as criminals. She called on South African authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice. “No matter what the allegations may be, there are lawful processes. All should be presumed innocent and granted fair treatment in a court of law,” she said.
She appealed to Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm and law-abiding while conducting their legal activities.
Emmanuel reportedly died from injuries sustained during a beating by military personnel on April 20, 2026. Andrew was apprehended on April 19 in the Booysens area of Pretoria, and his body was later found at the Pretoria Central Mortuary.
Ramaphosa addresses tensions
President Ramaphosa made his remarks during an address aired on SABC News on Freedom Day, amid renewed anti-foreigner tensions. He said, “To those who are here legally, respect us as South Africans, respect our laws, conventions, and traditions, as you would want us to respect yours.”
Ramaphosa stressed that South Africa remains committed to global cooperation and human rights but will enforce its immigration laws. He urged citizens to trust the legal process regarding illegal immigrants. “Let us allow our laws to take their course. We remain committed to multilateralism, international law, and principled diplomacy,” he stated.
Nigeria’s Acting Ambassador to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, insisted that Nigerians were not under coordinated attack.
NiDCOM issues safety advisory
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) issued safety advisories to Nigerians in South Africa, urging them to remain law-abiding and avoid confrontations. The commission advised Nigerians to “avoid confrontation with protesters, refrain from engaging with demonstration groups, and monitor local media for real-time safety updates.”
NiDCOM warned that protests in cities such as East London, Cape Town, Durban, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal have turned violent, resulting in looting and property damage. The commission also disclosed that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, is engaging with her South African counterpart over the situation.
