Nigerian Union In South Africa Accuses Politicians Of Exploiting Xenophobia

By: Abudu Olalekan

The Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA) is calling it out. Politicians in South Africa? They’re using anti-Nigerian and anti-migrant sentiments. For votes. Plain and simple.

Speaking exclusively with Reportersroom, NUSA spokesperson Akindele Olunloyo didn’t hold back. He said foreign nationals have become scapegoats. Convenient ones. For the country’s economic and governance mess.

Here’s the pattern. Every election season, it gets worse. Politicians blame migrants for unemployment, crime, poverty. Rally support by pointing fingers.

“African migrants in South Africa are poor and voiceless,” Olunloyo said. “Politicians know this. They see us as easy pawns in their political chess game. Cheap points.”

Politicians Use Migrants To Divert Attention

He’s not mincing words. Leaders find it easier to blame migrants than fix real problems. Corruption. Poor governance. Inequality. Economic decline. All ignored.

“There’s a lot of political manipulation out here,” he said. “These politicians are opportunists. Scoring points on our backs.”

Why target migrants? Simple. They don’t vote. Not in significant numbers anyway. So they’re easy targets. No political cost.

Operation Dudula And The Rise Of Anti-Foreigner Politics

Olunloyo pointed to Operation Dudula. It’s not just a protest group anymore. It’s a political party now.

“Operation Dudula is registered in South Africa as a political party,” he explained. “It’s a pressure group too.”

And it’s working for them. People who were nobodies before? They started speaking against foreigners. Suddenly, they’re in parliament.

“You find out most of these anti-foreign organisations were unknown. No one knew them until they started talking,” he said. “That’s how you win a seat.”

Anti-immigrant rhetoric has become a shortcut. To relevance. To power. To media attention.

Election Year Could Make Things Worse

The local government elections? Scheduled for November 4, 2026. And Olunloyo is worried.

“An election is coming again. They’ve intensified the rhetoric against African migrants,” he said. “It’s going to be very serious. Very tough for migrants. Unfortunately, this is an election year.”

History repeats itself. Election periods bring hostility. Migrants become targets again.

South Africa is struggling. High unemployment. Rising costs. Poor service delivery. People are frustrated. And politicians? They’d rather blame migrants than fix things.

Migrants Unfairly Blamed For Everything

Olunloyo insisted immigrants aren’t the problem. He even cited former President Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki said the same thing—foreigners aren’t responsible for South Africa’s economic troubles.

Corruption. Inequality. Poor governance. Those are the real culprits.

“Foreigners have become the easiest people to blame whenever things go wrong,” Olunloyo said. “Instead of dealing with real issues, politicians point fingers at migrants.”

Crime Narratives Fuel Discrimination

He also challenged the crime narrative. Yes, some migrants commit crimes. But so do South Africans. A lot of them.

“The majority of crimes committed in South Africa are by South Africans themselves,” he stated. “But politicians find it convenient to blame foreigners.”

This kind of talk? It fuels hostility. Innocent migrants—law-abiding people, workers, business owners—they suffer. Discrimination deepens. Social divisions grow.

A Warning About Xenophobia

Olunloyo warned that anti-migrant rhetoric normalizes xenophobia. It makes hate acceptable. And that’s dangerous.

Migrants already face harassment. Discrimination. Barriers to opportunities and services. Inflammatory statements make it worse. Tensions between locals and migrants rise.

Call For Real Solutions

He’s calling on South African leaders. Drop the divisive talk. Focus on real policies. Address unemployment. Poverty. Inequality.

“Promote unity,” he urged. “Stop exploiting social tensions for votes.”

He appealed to civil society. Community leaders. Government institutions. Challenge the narratives that blame migrants. Have honest conversations about governance and reform. Stop scapegoating the vulnerable.

“The problems facing South Africa will not be solved by blaming foreigners,” he said. “They will only be solved when leaders focus on real issues.”

Migrants are not political tools. They’re people. And Olunloyo wants politicians to prioritize inclusion. Accountability. Economic growth. For everyone. Regardless of where they’re from.