A Kenyan woman who has spent years building a livelihood in South Africa was forcibly removed from her hair salon in Estcourt, a quiet town in KwaZulu-Natal’s uThukela District, last week—one of the latest victims in a wave of xenophobic violence that has swept across the country. The incident, confirmed by the Kenyan Diaspora in South Africa (KEDASA), marks a sharp escalation in attacks targeting foreign-owned businesses, with local authorities now openly directing non-South African entrepreneurs to cease operations or face further disruption.
The woman, whose identity is being withheld for security reasons, told KEDASA leaders she was chased from her salon by a group of residents, including the town’s mayor, Councillor Mduduzi Tholumuzi Myeza. According to KEDASA Secretary General William Thegeya, the mayor and his supporters conducted patrols to ensure no foreign-owned businesses remained open. Employees, who had been instructed by the mayor to temporarily grab over operations, now face an uncertain future. “The business is still standing, but the owner is gone,” Thegeya said. “This is not just an attack on one person—it’s a coordinated effort to drive out foreign nationals entirely.”
Thegeya added that KEDASA has already documented similar cases in Bizana, Eastern Cape, where a widely circulated video shows locals threatening to expel all African foreigners by May 5. In the footage, residents argue that migrants—particularly those from Kenya—should not be allowed to operate small businesses, framing their presence as economically exploitative. The ultimatum has sent shockwaves through the Kenyan community, with some members already fleeing the area. “We’ve advised our members in Bizana to leave immediately, even if it’s temporary,” Thegeya said. “The situation is volatile, and we cannot guarantee their safety if they stay.”
The Kenyan High Commission in Pretoria issued a formal advisory on Monday, urging citizens to avoid areas where protests are occurring and to carry identification at all times. The commission emphasized that any incidents of violence should be reported to both the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Kenyan mission for assistance. “We are monitoring the situation closely and have established direct communication channels with affected individuals,” a commission spokesperson said. However, the government in Nairobi has yet to issue a full-scale evacuation order, despite growing pleas from diaspora groups.
South Africa’s resurgence of xenophobic violence, which began in late April, has already displaced over a thousand immigrants in Durban alone, according to local reports. Armed vigilante groups, including factions linked to Operation Dudula, have led protests demanding the expulsion of foreign nationals, citing rising unemployment and crime. While the government has condemned the violence, some political leaders have amplified anti-immigrant rhetoric, deepening fears of a broader crackdown. The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, condemned the attacks as a betrayal of South Africa’s anti-apartheid legacy, calling for immediate accountability.
Regional reactions have been swift. Nigeria summoned South Africa’s ambassador and began evacuating its citizens, while Ghana and Zimbabwe have urged Pretoria to strengthen protections for migrants. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has demanded investigations into the attacks, warning that they undermine African integration. Meanwhile, Amnesty International has criticized South Africa’s failure to prevent the violence, stating that the attacks “reflect a dangerous erosion of the values that once defined this nation.”
Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has acknowledged the crisis but has not yet confirmed any direct attacks on Kenyans. Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei told local media last week that no credible reports of Kenyans being targeted had been received. However, diaspora estimates suggest We find approximately 40,000 Kenyans living in South Africa, many of whom operate small businesses or operate in informal sectors—making them particularly vulnerable. With no clear government response to the escalating violence, the fate of foreign entrepreneurs like the Estcourt salon owner remains uncertain.
