JUST IN: A Nigerian woman who recently returned home after spending 11 years in South Africa has shared an emotional account of her experience, including an alleged incident she faced shortly after giving birth.
ABUJA, NIGERIA — A Nigerian returnee has recounted her experience of living in South Africa for 11 years, alleging that she faced discrimination during her stay in the country. According to her account, one of the most difficult moments occurred when she gave birth to her first daughter at a hospital, where she claimed she received unfair treatment after delivery.
According to the woman, she began bleeding immediately after giving birth and was still recovering when a nurse approached her. She alleged that the nurse spoke to her in a local language and, after realizing she could not understand because she was a foreign national, instructed her to clean the hospital floor despite her condition. She described the experience as one of the most painful moments of her time in South Africa.
The woman said, “When I gave birth to my first daughter, I felt so bad because on the day that I gave birth, I was asked to clean the hospital floor because I was bleeding. Immediately I gave birth, I started bleeding. One of the nurses came there and noticed that I couldn’t respond in their language. That told her I was a foreigner, and she started telling me to clean the floor.”
Her account comes amid continued discussions about the treatment of foreign nationals in parts of South Africa. In recent years, concerns over anti-immigrant sentiments have led to reports of tension affecting some African migrants, including Nigerians, although experiences vary widely across different communities and institutions. Authorities in South Africa have repeatedly stated that discrimination and unlawful treatment are not official government policy.
The development means the woman’s testimony is likely to contribute to the ongoing conversation about the welfare of Nigerians living abroad and the need for equal treatment in healthcare and other public services. Her claims have not been independently verified, and no response from the hospital or South African authorities was included in her account at the time of reporting.
