A Nigerian preacher and self-described entrepreneur, Joseph Chukwuka, is among dozens of nationals being processed for repatriation at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, as South Africa intensifies enforcement of immigration laws.
Chukwuka, who refers to himself as an Apostle, rejects claims that he is an economic migrant, insisting instead that his move to South Africa a decade ago was part of what he describes as an “entrepreneurial and trading journey” rooted in Igbo cultural identity.
“Number one, I’m an Igbo man. The Igbos are travelers by nature… we are traders, we are explorers, we are adventurous,” he said, arguing that his movement abroad reflects a long tradition of commerce and travel rather than economic necessity.
He has been living in Johannesburg, where he says he ran a church while also working as an e-hailing driver. Chukwuka was among dozens of people who queued outside the High Commission in Hatfield, with tensions occasionally flaring as individuals jostled for position in the processing line.
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that 586 Nigerian nationals have been processed for repatriation after being found to be residing in South Africa without valid documentation. A first flight departed on Thursday morning carrying 268 individuals who were issued Emergency Travel Documents by the Nigerian High Commission to facilitate their return.
Authorities said all affected individuals have been declared “undesirable persons” and will be barred from re-entering South Africa for five years.
A second repatriation flight is scheduled for Monday, 15 June 2026, to transport the remaining group.
“The Department further reminds all foreign nationals that they must be in possession of valid visas or authorisation to remain in the Republic lawfully,” Home Affairs said, adding that it will continue enforcing immigration regulations.
While some of those affected insist they hold valid documentation, officials maintain that most were found to be in the country unlawfully.
South Africa’s immigration system has also come under scrutiny, with critics pointing to limited processing capacity at ports of entry, allowing some migrants to move inland before regularising their status, contributing to wider enforcement challenges.