“I’ve Lived in SA All My Life”: Nigerian Student Banned From SA Until 2031, Moves Africa

• Fola Akinpelumi, 17, was repatriated to Nigeria after spending his entire life growing up in South Africa
• His father is married to a South African woman, but Home Affairs failed to secure Fola's documentation
• The emotional story sparked reactions from people across Africa as people shared their messages of support

Fola Akinpelumi grew up in South Africa. He went to school there, made friends there, and knew no other home. At 17, he was repatriated to Nigeria and banned from returning until 2031. His story, originally written by Zikoko Citizen on 11 July 2026, struck a nerve across Africa.

Fola's father is married to a South African woman, and the couple reportedly tried everything to get his documents in order. His stepmother and father had warned him from a young age that, without proper papers, he would always be treated as a foreigner. That reality only became clear to Fola once he finished secondary school and the immigration system caught up with him. Home Affairs never responded to the family's applications.

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From Pretoria to Nigeria: Fola reveals what really happened during his repatriation

The repatriation process was far from simple. Fola described four gruelling days of screening before he was cleared to board his flight home to a country he barely knew. Because his Visa had technically lapsed while waiting for Home Affairs to process his permit, his exit was recorded as an overstay which resulted in a 5 year ban.

"I can't return to South Africa until 2031."

View the full Zikoko Citizen story here:

Mzansi and beyond respond to Fola's story

People across Africa and South Africa itself were moved by what happened to Fola. This is what they said on his page:

damilolakehinde said:

"This made me cry 😢 Rooting for you, Fola 🫂 You are Nigerian, you have the Nigerian spirit. You will thrive against all odds.

iamkhanyie wrote:

"I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through, son. I’ve been following your story and as a South African, my heart is truly broken. This is so unfair and I was really hoping things would work out in your favor.

ayanfe_gold added:

"Welcome HOME. It might not mean much and you might face other systemic challenges here but you are Nigerian and it can’t be stripped off you."

More Briefly News on immigration

• King Misuzulu defended South Africa's immigration laws during a meeting with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, saying the country's policies should be respected.
• A Zimbabwean man moved his South African colleagues to tears as they gave him an emotional farewell before he returned home to sort out his immigration documents.
• A Nigerian nun was released from US immigration detention after intervention from US lawmakers, sparking relief among supporters who had raised concerns about her case.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News