Viral Video Shows Kenyan Man Cornered by Locals in South Africa

A Kenyan man living in South Africa says he is homeless and under pressure from anti-immigrant groups after a confrontation with local residents was captured in a widely shared video.

The man said he has lived in South Africa for 24 years and now relies on a shelter where he pays 60 rand a night. Speaking emotionally in the video, he said he has three children in the country and cannot imagine leaving them behind.

“I have lived in this country for 24 years. I do not even have an ID. I have three children here and I have been arrested here about seven times. I have made brothers here,” he said.

He explained that local residents confronted him while he was going about his daily activities, leaving him distressed and uncertain about his future. The incident comes amid growing hostility towards foreign nationals in South Africa, where some vigilante groups have called on migrants to leave the country.

The video prompted messages of support from many Kenyans online, with several encouraging him to return home. One commenter, identified as Mstapha Senior, said the man could be his brother who travelled to South Africa in 2002 and never returned. Others described Kenya as peaceful and welcoming and urged him to come back.

The man also spoke about the personal difficulties he has faced, including homelessness, divorce, repeated arrests and a lack of official documentation. His situation reflects the challenges experienced by many long-term migrants in South Africa, where economic pressures and social tensions have contributed to resentment towards foreign nationals.

The case has also drawn comparisons with a recent incident involving a Kenyan man who was rescued from the streets of Dubai after videos of his condition circulated online. Following support from Kenyans living abroad, he was flown back to Kenya to reunite with his family.