The Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg has issued a public advisory alerting Nigerians in South Africa to planned nationwide anti-foreigner protests scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2026.
In a statement released a day earlier and signed by the Consul General, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, the mission said it had received intelligence indicating that anti-foreigner groups were mobilising for a coordinated shutdown across all nine provinces.
According to the advisory, organisers have circulated messages calling on citizens to participate in demonstrations aimed at pressuring the government to take action against foreign nationals. The groups reportedly claim that foreigners benefit disproportionately from the country’s resources and are demanding that all non-citizens regardless of their legal status leave South Africa.
While the protests are expected to take place nationwide, specific gathering points have not been confirmed in most locations. However, in Johannesburg, demonstrators are expected to assemble at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown.
The march is scheduled to hold between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., with organisers planning to submit a memorandum later in the day. Authorities have warned of likely disruptions in central business districts across major cities, including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, and Durban.
The Nigerian consulate has advised its citizens to remain vigilant, avoid protest areas, and refrain from engaging with demonstrators, stressing the importance of prioritising personal safety.
