The South African Consul General in Lagos, Professor Bobby Moroe, has assured Nigerians that South Africa continues to issue visas to eligible travellers despite ongoing anti-migrant protests in the country.

Moroe gave the assurance on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, on the sidelines of a round-table organised by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos, where participants discussed South Africa’s xenophobia in comparative perspective.

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The diplomat said South Africa visas for Nigerians remained available for tourism and other legitimate purposes, rejecting reports that the consulate had stopped issuing visas because of the protests.

“Visas continue to be issued in spite of the ongoing protests and Nigerians are still visiting the country for tourism and other legitimate purposes,” Moroe said.

He stressed that Nigerian applicants who satisfy the country’s visa requirements would not be discriminated against because of their nationality.

“We wish to make it clear again that Nigerians under these circumstances faced today will never be discriminated against,” he said.

Moroe added that visa applications would only be rejected where applicants failed to meet the relevant requirements.

“No basis will justify why your visa is rejected except that you, for one reason or another may not have qualified with the requirements of the visa,” he said.

His comments come amid heightened concerns among Nigerians following reports of xenophobic incidents and anti-migrant protests in parts of South Africa.

The protests have renewed concerns about the safety and treatment of Nigerians living in or travelling to the country, while Nigerian authorities and community groups have continued to monitor developments.

Against that backdrop, Moroe’s statement sought to distinguish South Africa’s visa process from the wider security and political concerns surrounding the protests.

The envoy also highlighted a recent change to South Africa’s travel process, announcing the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation, or ETA.

The digital system is intended to simplify and accelerate travel authorisation for eligible prospective visitors.

Moroe said travellers could apply through their mobile devices, reducing paperwork and making the process faster and more convenient.

The introduction of the ETA represents an effort to modernise South Africa’s travel procedures as the country seeks to make legitimate international travel more efficient.

For Nigerian travellers, the clarification means that the ongoing protests have not resulted in a blanket suspension of visa issuance.

Applicants must, however, continue to satisfy the applicable requirements for their intended category of travel.

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The assurance comes at a sensitive time in Nigeria-South Africa relations, with the two countries maintaining extensive economic, diplomatic and people-to-people ties despite recurring tensions over migration and xenophobia.