In a statement issued in Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa described the
attacks as an unnecessary setback. Urging restraint on the
part of Nigerians, she warned that further attacks without
any reprimand may incur dire consequences.
She spoke as the Senate, yesterday, called for harder
stance against South Africa on the issue, just as the
Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Matters, Rita Orji,
condemned alleged lackadaisical attitude of the Federal
Government towards the protection of Nigerians outside
the country, saying the government was more interested in
remittances than the welfare of citizens abroad.
Anyene said the union had reported the incident to the
Nigeria mission and South African police.
“As we speak, five buildings with Nigerian businesses,
including a church, have been looted and burned by South
Africans.
‘’One of the buildings is a mechanic workshop with 28 cars
under repairs, with other vital documents burnt during the
attack. Also, the pastor of the church was wounded and is
in the hospital receiving treatment,” Anyene said.
Disturbed by the renewed attacks, Dabiri-Erewa advised
Nigerians to be extra cautious because it looked like South
African government seemed to have no control over the
attacks.
The SSA, however, urged restraint on the part of Nigerians
and warned that further attacks without any reprimand may
have dire consequences.
Dabiri-Erewa said the AU was being called to intervene
because information had it that there will be more
xenophobic attacks against foreigners on February 22 and
23.
Since 1994, South Africa has been a cesspool of sporadic
xenophobic attacks against foreigners with Zimbabweans,
Somalis, Mozambicans, Ethiopians, Kenyans, Angolans and
Nigerians among others, being the victims.
In the case of Nigerians, the matter has been worsened by
recurring police brutality and extra-judicial killings, which in
2014 led Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to describe the
South African police brutality on a Nigerian, which was
caught on camera as “horror and particularly disturbing.”
Tochukwu Nnadi, a 34-year-old Nigerian businessman, was
killed by South African police on December 29, 2016.
How it began
In December 1994 and January 1995, armed youth gangs in
Alexandra Township outside of Johannesburg, Gauteng
Province, destroyed the homes and property of migrants
and marched the individuals down to the local police
station where they demanded that the foreigners be forcibly
and immediately removed.
This was to be followed by a series of more violent attacks
across the country in 1998, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015
and 2016.
In August 2000, seven xenophobic killings were reported in
the Cape Flats district of Cape Town. Seven foreigners from
different African countries were killed on the Cape Flats.
Among those attacked were two Nigerians, one Kenyan
and two Angolans.
On May 11, 2008, an outburst of xenophobic violence in the
Johannesburg township of Alexandra triggered more
xenophobic violence in other townships. First, it only spread
in the Gauteng Province. After two weeks, the violence
jumped to other urban areas across the country, mainly
Durban, Cape Town and Limpopo Province.
In January 2015, Somali shop owner shot and killed a 14-
year-old boy, Siphiwe Mahori, during an alleged robbery in
Soweto Township. The boy was shot in the neck and died
within 15 minutes. Lebogang Ncamla, 23, was another
victim when he was shot three times in the arm. The
incident triggered waves of attacks and looting of foreign-
owned shops.
On March 5, 2015, xenophobic attacks occurred in Limpopo
Province. Foreigners on the outskirts of Polokwane left their
shops after protesting villagers threatened to burn them
alive and then looted shops. Violence erupted in the Ga-
Sekgopo area after a foreign shop owner was found in
possession of a mobile phone belonging to a local man who
was killed.
On April 8, 2015, a spate of xenophobic violence occurred
after Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini made comments that
foreigners should go back to their home countries because
they were changing the nature of the South African society
with their goods and enjoying wealth that should have been
for local people.
Senate Committee Chairman on
Diaspora, Senator Rose Oko, who expressed dissatisfaction
over continuous killings of Nigerians in South Africa, said
she has written a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to
furnish the committee with what really transpired.
“We have written to Ministry of foreign Affairs to avail us
with what happened in South Africa between the Police and
the man. We condemned, in very strong terms, these
attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
“You are aware that in 2016 alone, about 20 Nigerians were
killed in extra-judicial manner. Before this time, several had
been killed in like manner. There are several incidences of
xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. You are
also aware that Nigeria/ South Africa have excellent
diplomatic ties . In 2013, when there were xenophobic
attacks, former President Goodluck Jonathan signed
Memorandum of Understanding to re-enforce diplomatic
ties,” she said.
CREDIT : VANGUATD NGR
