By owuiye Ahmed zuleihat 
If you’re Nigerian and living in South Africa, the message from your consulate right now is simple: keep your head down and stay safe.
Nationwide anti-foreigner protests are kicking off today, May 4, and the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg is warning everyone to avoid confrontation at all costs.
Consul General Ambassador Ninikanwa Okey-Uche put out an urgent notice yesterday after getting credible intel that several groups are planning a coordinated “shutdown” across all nine provinces. Their demand: the South African government should force out foreigners, claiming they get more from the country than locals do. The call is blunt. They want all foreigners gone, papers or no papers.
Most cities haven’t listed exact meetup spots yet, but in Johannesburg, protesters will gather at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown. The march runs from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with a handover of demands to officials set for noon.
The consulate expects major disruptions in the city centers of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, and Durban. If you own a shop or business, think hard about closing for the day. Foreign-owned businesses have been targets before, and no one wants a repeat.
The consulate’s advice: Don’t engage
“Do not argue with demonstrators or confront them,” the advisory says. Walk away. That’s the safest move.
They’re also asking Nigerians to:
- Steer clear of protest zones: Avoid Mary Fitzgerald Square and central business districts between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Hold off on travel: If it’s not urgent, stay home until things calm down.
- Lock up your business: If you can, close for the day and take valuables with you.
- Keep your phone close: Watch local news and consulate updates.
- Speak up if you’re in danger: Call the consulate’s emergency line or the police if you feel threatened.
The consulate says it’s already talking to South African police about protecting foreigners and their property. They’re also promising to keep consular help available while this plays out.
This isn’t coming out of nowhere. Xenophobic flare-ups have happened in South Africa before, especially when jobs are tight. In 2008, 2015, and 2019, attacks on foreign nationals left dozens dead and forced thousands to flee. Nigeria had to airlift more than 600 people out in 2019 after violence in Gauteng.
Right now, at least 130 Nigerians have signed up for voluntary evacuation flights the Federal Government is arranging. Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said President Bola Tinubu ordered them to put Nigerians’ safety first.
The last round of protests, from April 27 to 29, stayed mostly peaceful thanks to heavy police presence. But officials confirmed two Nigerians died in separate incidents involving security personnel.
Another wave of protests is expected between May 4 and 8. Abuja and Pretoria are in “constant communication,” according to Odumegwu-Ojukwu. If things get violent, Nigeria says it won’t wait to start evacuations.
South African police have promised more patrols in areas where many foreigners live and work. Still, many remember past attacks where help was slow to arrive.
For now, the consulate isn’t mincing words: don’t be a hero. Avoid hotspots, don’t argue, and check in with the consulate. With protests planned all week, playing it safe is the smartest move.
If you need the consulate’s emergency contacts or want updates, follow their official channels and local news. Look out for your people, too. A quick text to check on friends and neighbors goes a long way right now.