Tanzania’s High Commission in Pretoria has confirmed that 60 of its citizens are currently being held at the Lindela Repatriation Centre in South Africa. The nationals were detained for allegedly living in the country without valid permits, according to High Commissioner James Bwana.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on May 24, the embassy responded to a tip from user @DuniaSlaveDunia regarding the arrests. Officials visited the centre on May 19 and identified the detained Tanzanians, all of whom were issued Emergency Travel Documents (ETD).
The confirmation comes amidst a broader and increasingly violent crackdown on African immigrants in South Africa. This phenomenon, which critics and human rights advocates have termed “afrophobia,” primarily targets people of African descent before any other communities.
Vigilante groups and citizen-led movements, such as March and March and Operation Dudula, have recently intensified their campaigns against undocumented migrants. In April and May 2026, these groups organised demonstrations in major cities like Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Durban, resulting in violent and sometimes fatal attacks against foreign nationals.
These groups frequently scapegoat African and Asian immigrants for South Africa’s economic struggles, including an unemployment rate exceeding 43 per cent, high crime rates, and poor service delivery. However, studies consistently disprove these claims, showing that migrants are not the root cause of these systemic issues.
The deteriorating situation has prompted strong diplomatic reactions from other African nations. The government of Ghana recently summoned the South African ambassador to demand an explanation for the treatment of Ghanaian and other African nationals.
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Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, formally requested the African Union to place the issue of “South African xenophobic attacks targeted at Africans” on the agenda for the upcoming Mid-Year Coordination Meeting. This summit is scheduled to take place in Cairo, Egypt, on June 24, 2026.
In response to Ghana’s diplomatic pressure, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, issued a statement acknowledging the request. Lamola noted that following “sporadic incidents of confrontation against some immigrants,” the South African government moved swiftly to condemn the acts.
Lamola further stated that law enforcement agencies had been directed to “promptly take the necessary actions within the laws of the Republic to guarantee the safety of citizens, residents and visitors.” He added that perpetrators whose actions are inconsistent with the rule of law would be brought to book.
Despite these assurances, reports of police inaction or complicity persist. Human Rights Watch recently highlighted cases where law enforcement officers failed to protect foreign nationals during attacks, or worse, actively aided the attackers.
The detention of the 60 nationals at Lindela—a facility located west of Johannesburg that serves as South Africa’s largest holding centre for undocumented migrants—highlights the precarious situation many immigrants face.
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The current tensions stand in stark contrast to the deep historical ties between Tanzania and South Africa. Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1994, following South Africa’s transition to democracy, but their shared history goes much further back.
During the anti-apartheid struggle, the East African nation was a crucial ally to South African liberation movements. It was the first safe haven for South Africans fleeing after the Sharpeville massacre on March 21, 1960.
Former President Julius Nyerere played a pivotal role in establishing the Pan-African Freedom Movement, and his country hosted the headquarters and military camps for the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC).
This historical solidarity makes the current wave of anti-African sentiment in South Africa particularly disheartening for many observers.
Writing in this publication, journalist Sarah Dajen noted regarding the crisis, “It is disheartening to witness people who underwent suffering during the apartheid regime now commit similar oppression against fellow Africans with the same skin tone.”
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With the African Union summit approaching in June, the international community and human rights organisations are closely monitoring South Africa’s response to the crisis.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights have both expressed deep concerns over the ongoing violence and discrimination.
