A South African returnee identified as Rita has recounted how she and her family lost their legal immigration status after South African authorities allegedly refused to renew their residency documents, leaving them without valid papers despite previously complying with the country’s immigration requirements.
Speaking during an interview with Vanguard News TV on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Rita narrated her family’s experience, explaining that she relocated to South Africa in 2014 to join her husband, who had moved there ahead of her. She said she later traveled with their son, and upon arrival, the family completed the necessary documentation required for their stay.
According to Rita, everything appeared to be in order initially, as they obtained the appropriate immigration papers that allowed them to reside legally in the country. However, their circumstances changed when the documents expired and they approached the authorities to have them renewed.
Recounting the experience, Rita said, “My husband went there. I and my son went to meet him later. That was in 2014. When we got there, we had to do our papers and when the paper expired, we went back to renew it and the next thing they did was to cancel it and said they are not going to issue us any papers again.”
She explained that the decision came as a shock to the family, as they had expected the renewal process to proceed normally after previously receiving the required documentation. Instead, she alleged that the authorities informed them they would no longer be issued any legal residency papers.
According to Rita, the refusal to renew their documents placed her family in a difficult position, leaving them without legal immigration status. She suggested that the cancellation of their papers marked the beginning of years of uncertainty, as they could no longer regularize their stay despite their earlier compliance with immigration procedures.
Rita said the situation affected every aspect of their lives, creating constant anxiety about their future in South Africa. Without valid documents, she implied that the family faced challenges associated with living in a foreign country without recognized legal status.
Her account comes amid recent reports of Nigerians returning from South Africa following a wave of xenophobic attacks and protests targeting foreign nationals. The Federal Government has coordinated evacuation efforts for affected citizens, with several batches of returnees arriving back in Nigeria in recent days.
Many of the returnees have shared personal accounts of the challenges they experienced while living in South Africa, including concerns about safety, access to legal documentation, and uncertainty surrounding their immigration status. Their testimonies have highlighted the difficulties some migrants encountered while trying to remain in the country legally.
She expressed hope that sharing her story would provide insight into the realities faced by some Nigerian families living abroad and encourage greater awareness of the difficulties that can arise when immigration documents are not renewed…See_More
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