Take Your Children and Leave’ – South African Women Target Nigerian Husbands in Viral Xenophobic Outburst

A wave of xenophobic tensions has deepened in South Africa after a viral video showed a South African woman calling on her countrywomen married to Nigerian men to leave their marriages and relocate with their children to Nigeria. The video, widely circulated across social media on April 27, 2026, has sparked outrage and raised fears of escalating hostility against mixed-nationality families.

In the clip, the woman directly addressed South African women married to foreigners, insisting they should abandon their relationships and return with their families to their husband’s home country. “If a man loves you, he must take you back to where he’s coming from… let them go with their wives and their kids,” she said, expressing frustration over immigration and social pressures. The comments have been condemned as discriminatory and dangerous, particularly for children born in South Africa to Nigerian fathers.

The incident is part of a broader surge in anti-immigrant sentiment linked to the activities of Operation Dudula, a group known for campaigning against undocumented migrants. In recent weeks, tensions have spilled into schools, where foreign pupils have reportedly been targeted, triggering fear among migrant families. Education authorities have maintained that all children have the right to schooling regardless of nationality, warning that any attempt to block access would violate existing laws.

Reports indicate that a similar confrontation occurred days earlier when a Nigerian trader in a Johannesburg township was surrounded by a group of locals who ordered him to leave with his family. “Take your wife and go back to your country… take your children and go and raise them at home,” the group insisted. The businessman, who said he had lived in South Africa for a long time and was only working to feed his family, had his explanations dismissed. The South African Police Service condemned that conduct, describing it as unlawful and contrary to constitutional values.

The rising hostility has also seen a South African man lament in another viral video that local women are “sleeping with foreigners,” claiming this is contributing to locals losing their country. South African women who marry Nigerian men are commonly referred to by the slur “Jollofinas,” reflecting deep-seated disdain for such unions among some sections of the population.

Amid the unrest, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed that two Nigerians, Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew, lost their lives during the recent wave of attacks. NiDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement issued on April 29, 2026, warned that the crisis appears to be worsening despite ongoing diplomatic efforts between Nigeria and South Africa. “We state clearly that NIDCOM rejects the profiling and generalisation of all Nigerians. Crime has no nationality,” the statement read. “Any individual, regardless of origin, who commits an offence should be investigated and made to face the full penalty of South African law. However, collective punishment and blanket labeling of an entire nationality are unacceptable and dangerous”.

The commission reported that children of Nigerian origin are reportedly avoiding school, while many business owners have shut their shops due to concerns over looting, harassment, and targeted violence. NiDCOM called for stronger police presence in affected communities, swift arrest and prosecution of perpetrators, and closer collaboration between authorities and diaspora representatives.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, during the 2026 National Freedom Day celebration in Bloemfontein on April 27, condemned the recent xenophobic attacks. He cautioned South Africans not to allow legitimate concerns about illegal migration to lead to hatred towards fellow Africans. However, critics argue that stronger action is needed to curb hate speech and protect vulnerable communities as rhetoric increasingly targets families and children rather than just individuals.