3,900 migrants, others arrested as South Africa begins crackdown

More than 3,900 people, including 1,650 migrants, have been arrested in South Africa during a police crackdown following April’s deadly xenophobic violence, authorities have said.

“We are satisfied that we have stabilised the situation and further loss of life has been prevented,” the government said in a statement released on Sunday.

“Security agencies continue to work around the clock to protect both foreign nationals and South African citizens against any attacks.”

Some 2,260 South Africans have also been arrested on a variety of charges since the operation began.

“We will, in the next weeks and months, accelerate our efforts to take back public buildings that have been hijacked, either by foreign nationals or by South Africans; rid our townships and villages of drugs… that are destroying the lives of many young people,” the government statement said.

The crackdown came after at least seven people were killed as mobs hunted down migrant workers from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and other African countries, forcing hundreds of terrified families to abandon their homes.

The arrests of the so-called “illegal” migrants have prompted concerns that the government is fanning xenophobic sentiment, though authorities have denied that the operation targeted foreigners.

In April, authorities launched a joint operation between the police, Ministry of Home Affairs and the army, targeting undocumented foreign nationals across the country. Human Rights groups and activists have described Operation Myala, that has resulted in at least 750 arrests so far, as “state xenophobia”.

The police operation was strongly criticised during a rally on Saturday in a migrant neighbourhood in Johannesburg.

3,900 migrants, others arrested as South Africa begins crackdown

Having Nigerian husbands exposes us to daily discrimination – South African women

It is not a book club, a yoga club or a theatre club, but about 100 South African wives rely on their own social group to meet and share their experience of prejudice for being married to foreigners.

They say that having Nigerian husbands exposes them to daily discrimination, and that they had long predicted the wave of deadly xenophobic violence that has shaken South Africa in recent weeks.

The United Nigerian Wives in South Africa (UNWISA) club was set up two years ago to support wives who tell of being shunned by family and friends for falling in love with Africans from outside South Africa.

The group’s existence underscores the deep-rooted tensions that erupted anew in Johannesburg and Durban this month when mobs of South African men hunted down immigrants, attacking them and destroying their homes and businesses.

At least seven people have been killed in the unrest, and thousands of immigrants — mainly from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mozambique and elsewhere in Africa — were forced to flee their homes and seek safety in makeshift camps.

“We saw this thing coming and that’s why we formed this association,” UNWISA chairwoman Lindwela Uche, 42, told AFP.

“If only they (the authorities) had listened to us… they would have known that there’s a fire burning slowly and they would have seen how to tackle it.”

The group has 100 members on its Facebook forum and also organises picnics, family soccer tournaments and demonstrations against the stigma they endure.

“Being married to a foreigner is very challenging,” Lufuno Orji, a Johannesburg resources consultant whose husband is a Nigerian medical doctor, told AFP.

“You often spend your time defending yourself and then you defend your foreign husband for being himself.”

Attitudes “are negative everywhere we go,” said Thelma Okoro, 37, adding that even wearing traditional Nigerian dress on the street can attract barbed comments.

– Paying a high price –

Daily life for the wives, their husbands and their children includes battling criticism from neighbours, schools, government officials, health workers, taxi drivers and even the police.

Last year Uche’s 13-year-old daughter returned from school complaining that her teacher had told her “not to bring that Nigerian mentality here” after she and classmates were noisy in class.

“We need to be protected, we need our children to be protected… and our husbands to be treated with dignity,” said Uche, who has been married to her husband Cajethan Dennis for 17 years.

Okoro’s eight-year-old daughter gets mocked by schoolmates over her name “Ngozi” which means “blessing” in Igbo but literally translates to “danger” in Zulu.

For Orji, her decision to marry Ogbonnaya has cost her dearly.

“Just before I got wed to my husband, I lost two very best friends of mine. They thought I was out of my mind,” said Orji, who adds that her own family though were “ecstatic” at her choice of husband.

Some of UNWISA members have kept their maiden names because their husbands’ name attract galling remarks.

Okoro, who has been married to Kenneth for 13 years, says she was told off by an official when she tried to apply for free government-issued houses in 2011.

“They told me that I was not entitled because I am married to a foreigner, and that if I wanted a house I must divorce the man first,” she said.

She also cited taking her sick children to hospital, where “the nurses ask ‘why are you giving these people residence papers’ — degrading and discrediting our choices”.

The wives’ club is now looking to widen its reach to South African women married to other foreign nationals after the recent anti-immigrant attacks highlighted many other women going through similar experiences.

One victim, Nokuthula Mabaso, last week told local media she was threatened with rape for dating her Zimbabwean boyfriend Elias Chauke.

“A group of Zulu-speaking men arrived and kicked down the door,” she said.

“They asked me why I dated a foreigner when there were many South African men in the squatter camp and I replied that I love Elias. They then assaulted and robbed me.

“One of them threatened to rape us and was stopped by others.”

The South African government has vowed to tackle xenophobic attacks, while human rights lawyers say women who are unfairly discriminated against should consider legal action.

“Marriage does not infringe your citizenship as a South African,” said Trish Erasmus, of the Pretoria-based Lawyers for Human Rights.

 

Having Nigerian husbands exposes us to daily discrimination – South African women

FG suspends Foreign Affairs Perm Sec Over recall of Nigerian Amb to South Africa

The Federal Government has suspended the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni, over the unauthorized recall of the Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa.

A highly placed government official in the Presidency told Vanguard that the president ordered the suspension of the Permanent Secretary Monday Morning and was directed to clarify why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for embarrassing the Nigerian government.

The source who did not want his name in print because he was not authorized to speak on the matter said the president was “livid with anger” when he read about the recall of the Nigerian Charge De Affairs who is also the head of mission without his authorization.

Nigeria presently does not have an ambassador in South Africa.

It is the second time since the appointment of the permanent Secretary, Ambassador Sheni that the Nigerian government would be brought to diplomatic ridicule over poor handling of diplomatic affairs.

In the first instance, the Ministry had claimed that President Goodluck Jonathan spoke with the King of Morocco on Phone, a claim that was denied by the Moroccoan government and later president Jonathan who ordered a full investigation into the matter.

The report of the investigation is still being awaited three weeks to the end of this administration.

The report of the alleged recall of the Nigerian Ambassador to South in the wake of the xenophobic attacks on foreigners and their businesses elicited a strong reaction from the South African government which described the action as “unfortunate”.

But the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati however clarified that the Charge De Affairs of Nigerian Embassy in South Africa has only been invited for “routine consultation”.

 

FG suspends Foreign Affairs Perm Sec Over recall of Nigerian Amb to South Africa

Xenophobic Violence: Why are the citizens not in their countries? – Zuma comes out from closet

President Jacob Zuma on Monday hit out at other African countries after South Africa faced a backlash over the wave of anti-foreigner attacks in the country.

While Zuma condemned the violence, saying immigrants contributed to the South African economy, he also questioned why so many had flocked to South Africa.

“As much as we can have a problem alleged to be xenophobic, our brother countries contributed to this,” he said.

“Why are the citizens not in their countries?”

Earlier in April, mobs in Johannesburg and in the port city of Durban targeted migrants, ransacking their homes and burning shops.

Seven people died and thousands were displaced.

South Africa faced a backlash over the attacks and regional relations have been strained, with Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique organising for some of their fearful citizens to return home.

Nigeria has also recalled its ambassador in Pretoria over the attacks while there have been widespread calls for South African products to be boycotted.

But Zuma went on a counter-offensive Monday, saying his government would strengthen measures to tackle illegal immigration.

“Some of them (immigrants) had very serious allegations against their own countries to explain why they are in South Africa,” Zuma said, speaking on Freedom Day that marks the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.

“In fact, some of them warned us that there is almost certainly another wave of refugees coming given the developments in their own countries.

“We have to address the underlying causes of the violence and tensions, which is the legacy of poverty, unemployment and inequality in our country and our continent and the competition for limited resources,” Zuma said.

Many South Africans have blamed the attacks on poverty and a severe jobs shortage in Africa’s second biggest economy. Undocumented immigrants are often accused of accepting work for less pay.

The spate of attacks has revived memories of xenophobic bloodshed in 2008, when 62 people were killed, tarnishing South Africa’s post-apartheid image as a “rainbow nation” of different groups living in harmony.

The South African army was deployed in some of the worst hit areas last week in a bid to crack down on the violence against immigrants.

 

Xenophobic Violence: Why are the citizens not in their countries? – Zuma comes out from closet

FG summons South African High Commissioner over xenophobic attacks

The Federal Government on Wednesday summoned the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria,   Lulu Louis-Mnguni, over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other black Africans.

Obanikoro

The government also demanded compensation from the South African authorities for the Nigerian victims of the violence by black South Africans.

A statement   from the Public Communications Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Louis-Mnguni met in Abuja on Wednesday with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,   Musiliu Obanikoro.

The statement explained that during the meeting, Obanikoro expressed Nigeria’s concern over the fate of its and other nationals in South Africa.

He underscored the fact that since South Africa was a major player on the continent, it should   make its nationals to live in peace with citizens of other countries.

The minister called on the South African government to “take concrete steps to quell the unrest and bring the culprits involved to book, to serve as a deterrent to others and prevent reoccurrence.”

According to the statement, the High Commissioner informed the minister that Pretoria was doing everything possible to address the attacks and prosecute those behind them.

He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the manner in which it was handling the crisis.

The envoy also disclosed that sensitisation campaigns would be carried out to educate South Africans on the need for them to live in peace with other nationals.

As the meeting was going on, the National Assembly and the United Nations flayed the attacks in the former apartheid enclave and called for their immediate end.

Like the Executive did, the   House of Representatives also sought compensation for the victims and their families.

Its Committee on Diaspora Affairs said that compensation would be “a major step in healing the wounds” inflicted on Nigerians and other African migrants.

The Chairman of the committee,   Abike Dabiri-Erewa, conveyed the House demand when   she delivered the resolution of the House to   Louis-Mnguni in Abuja.

She said it was a “sad development “ that South Africans would kill and destroy the properties of fellow Africans for reasons that were not defensible.

Dabiri-Erewa, who led members of the committee to the South African High Commission in Abuja to register the legislature’s unhappiness with the attacks, urged Pretoria to make “determined efforts” to quell the attacks.

She said, “Nigeria will not tolerate further killing and harassment of Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.

“We have to add that there should be compensation for all those who suffered as a result of these attacks”, she told the envoy.

In his response, Louis-Mnguni extended the apologies of his home government to Nigeria.

“We are sorry and feel very bad that you, our own people, are affected,” the envoy said. He   assured the delegation that his home government was addressing the incident.

He stated that in addition to using regular security agencies to contain the situation, President Jacob Zuma had ordered that the armed forces be deployed in the streets to beef up security.

Louis-Mnguni informed the committee that Zuma’s government might not focus on payment of compensation as the immediate reaction to the problem.

He explained that what was urgent was to restore security to the affected areas and support those who had been displaced.

“Our focus now is on saving lives”, he added.

But the envoy admitted that the younger generation of South Africans needed to be adequately educated on the sacrifices Nigeria and other African countries made during the liberation struggles in South Africa.

He told the committee that he was aware that many Africans   died for the sake of South Africa   while many governments made their resources available in support of the fight against white supremacist rule.

“We are not strong enough on the issue of education. A lot of our youths were born post 1990s and they are not fully aware of the role of Nigeria and other countries in the liberation struggles”, Louis-Mnguni stated.

He assured the committee that Pretoria would take urgent steps to correct noticeable shortcomings.

Shortly after this, the South African   Consul-General in Nigeria, Sam Monaisa, announced a short closure of the consulate in Lagos.

Monaisa said   in an electronic mail to the South African Business Forum that   the closure would remain in force until Thursday (today).

Monaisa accused Nigerians of “using the social media to blow an already tense situation in South Africa out of proportion and stoking emotions.”

He claimed that this was why Nigerians maintained that their compatriots were being killed daily in South Africa.

The Consul-General advised members of SABF to be on the alert and not move around unnecessarily.

His Nigerian counterpart   in South Africa, Uche Ajulu-Okeke, said in Johannesburg that eight Nigerians had so far indicated interest to return home.

Okeke told the News Agency of Nigeria on the telephone   that the Nigerian mission was already working with them to facilitate their journey back home.

‘‘I am working with eight Nigerians who have indicated interest to go home. They are presently at the deportation holding facility at Limbola, South Africa,’’ she said.

The Consul General said the mission held a meeting with leaders of the Nigerian Union in the nine provinces of South Africa.

She added, ‘‘The meeting was successful. Victims of the attacks came with wounds, including machete and gunshot wounds. They narrated how they were attacked and brought pictures. We took note of all that.

‘‘The mission asked all the provincial chairmen of the union to collate all information reported.’’

Okeke said the report would be sent to the Federal Government for further action, adding that the mission and the union had worked out a vigilance defence mechanism to protect Nigerians.

She also said the attacks had reduced and that Nigerians were asked to be vigilant in spite of the current development.

In the Senate on Wednesday, members urged President Goodluck Jonathan to recall Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador S.S. Yusuf, to protest the   attacks.

The call followed a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma – Egba.

The senators also called on the Federal Government to drag the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, before the International Criminal Court for his alleged role in the killings.

They     condemned the actions of the South Africans and asked the   Committee on Foreign Affairs to summon the Minister of Foreign Affairs,   Aminu Wali, to brief them on the situation and measures   taken to safeguard the lives of Nigerians .

They also urged the   government to apply pressure on the South African government to bring the perpetrators of “this evil act” to justice.

Like the House, they   demanded full compensation for the victims of the attacks and their families.

After listening to contributions by some members, Senate President David Mark described what is happening in South Africa as totally unacceptable and unexpected.

He said, “My humble suggestion will be that South Africa should not stretch us beyond our elastic limit on this matter.

“There is a limit beyond which the nation will not accept what is happening in South Africa. If we go beyond that limit, then Nigeria will be forced to act otherwise.

“All of you have very clearly enumerated the assistance we gave to South Africa to liberate them when they had their crises.

“Students contributed, we accommodated so many of them; we gave them scholarships. For them to repay us this way, I think it is totally unacceptable and uncalled for; we need to stand up also for all other Africans in South Africa.

“The African parliament must take this up seriously; we cannot have a situation where one king gets up and begins to say that people should go away, that is preaching hatred and is unacceptable.

“I agree with most of you that we have a responsibility to protect our citizens, in fact that is our first responsibility and we must do that without thinking twice.”

Also on Wednesday, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon,   condemned the   attacks in South Africa.

Ban expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

In a statement from New York, the United States, the UN boss noted the “actions and statements of the President of South Africa and the government to address the violence.”

He said that he welcomed the public expressions of some South Africans who have been calling for peaceful coexistence and harmony with foreign nationals.

Ban   urged that all efforts be made to avert future attacks, “including any incitement leading thereto, and encourages peaceful solutions.”

Meanwhile,   President   Zuma will on Friday meet with Nigerians and other African   residents in the country.

The meeting is also expected to be attended by nationals of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

A statement on the meeting which was made available to journalists reads, “President Zuma will meet with organisations representing foreign nationals. President   Zuma will on Friday, meet with leaders of organisations representing foreign nationals resident in the country at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria.

“The President will meet with leaders representing foreign nationals from within Africa and also Pakistan and Bangladesh.

“The meeting is part of building lasting partnerships with stakeholders in the country to ensure that the shameful attacks on foreign nationals do not recur in the country.

“Foreign nationals have for years been successfully integrated into many communities in the country and government thus seeks to gain lessons from these successes.”

FG summons South African High Commissioner over xenophobic attacks

South Africa closes consulate in Lagos, fears reprisals

Following protests by Nigerians against attacks on  foreigners in South Africa, the country on Wednesday announced the closure of its consulate in Lagos.

The country’s Consul-General in Nigeria, Sam Monaisa, said this in a statement to the South African Business Forum.

According to him, the closure would remain in force until Thursday.

Although the situation in Durban has calmed down, he was concerned about the Nigerians that were being repatriated.

Monaisa accused Nigerians of “using the social media to blow an already tensed situation in South Africa out of proportion and stoking emotions.”

This was why Nigerians believed that their compatriots were being killed daily in South Africa, he said.

He warned members of SABF, to stay alert and not move around unnecessarily.

South African business concerns and citizens became targets of threats and acts of retaliation whenever xenophobic attacks occurred in South Africa, he cautioned.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s cabinet has warned that companies operating in the rest of Africa might be targeted, just as Johannesburg-based Sasol Ltd. announced it was repatriating South African employees working on projects in Mozambique for their own safety.

 

South Africa closes consulate in Lagos, fears reprisals

Xenophobic attacks: 8 Nigerians want to return home – Consul General

Nigeria’s Consul General in South Africa, Amb. Uche Ajulu-Okeke, said on Wednesday that eight Nigerians have so far  indicated interest to return home due to xenophobic attacks.

Okeke told pressmen on phone from Johannesburg, South Africa, that the Nigerian mission was already working with them to facilitate their journey back home.

‘’ I am working with eight Nigerians who have indicated interest to go home. They are presently at the deportation holding facility at Limbola, South Africa,’’ she said. The Consul General said the mission held a meeting with leaders of  the Nigerian Union in the nine provinces of South Africa.

‘’ The meeting was successful. Victims of the attacks came with wounds, including machete and gunshot wounds. ‘’ They narrated how they were attacked and brought pictures. We took note of all that.  ‘’ The mission asked all the provincial chairmen of the union to collate all information reported,’’ she said.

Okeke said the report would be sent to the Federal Government for further action, adding  that the mission and the union worked out a vigilance defence mechanism to protect Nigerians. She also said the attacks had reduced and that Nigerians were asked to be vigilant inspite of the current development.

The President of Nigerian Union in South Africa, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, also told newsmen that the meeting with the  mission was used to assess the situation and take stock of losses suffered  by Nigerians. ‘’ It was a successful meeting. Victims of the attack came and gave firsthand account of their experiences. ‘’ We asked them to collate their losses and these will be sent to the government for further action,’’ he said.

 

Xenophobic attacks: 8 Nigerians want to return home – Consul General

Nigerians affected by xenophobic attacks will be compensated - Obanikoro

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, is hopeful that citizens affected by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa will be compensated.

Since the renewed attacks started last week, several Nigerians have lost their businesses and other belongings to fire set by locals on buildings where their businesses were housed.

Senator Obanikoro in an interview with Channels TV, said that Nigerian High Commissioner, Martin Cobham and other delegations were taking stock of damages done to Nigerians to ensure that adequate compensation would be given to them.

“We have situations where some of our people lost their shops in this attack.

“We are taking stock of the damages done to them and we are going to be engaging the South African Government,” senator Obanikoro said.

He stated that the South African government had been exploring different avenues to end the attacks that have claimed several lives in KwaZulu-Natal province.

“One of the major stakeholders who incited the South African community has called for a meeting this morning where some representatives of the affected countries would be addressed.

“Some traditional rulers will be there to see how they can douse the situation and ensure the safety of Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa.

“This is a very shameful situation and it has attracted a lot of international outcry.

“I think the leaders have seen the need to ensure that the xenophobic attacks do not escalate.

“The attitude is now more promising and within the next few days we should be able to put this behind us.

“We are working on how best we can get a lasting solution to the problem,” the Nigerian Minister said.

 

Nigerians affected by xenophobic attacks will be compensated - Obanikoro

Xenophobia: Dear South Africans, blame your leaders, not foreigners

By Babajide Alabi

There are various video clips circulating on social media networks of the xenophobic attacks going on in the former apartheid country, South Africa. When I first came across one of these clips earlier this week, my initial reaction was to ignore it and turn over to reputable broadcast news outlets to see if I can get more stories and probably watch “clean” videos of these attacks.

Nigerians in the Durban Point area built barricades with burning tyres and debris.

While I was “reading up” on these attacks, the video clips became viral on social media networks. I restrained myself from watching any of them because I was sure they would be very gory. In the same vein, there were lots of horrible stories coming out of the Madiba country. Many of these stories were told by African brothers and sisters who had, out of fear for their lives, taken early exits from the country.

After a while, I was inclined to click one of these clips, so I could put pictures to the stories I heard. But I restrained myself, because naturally I take more than a “little” caution in watching video clips on the social media. Being a “student” of social media network, I realised very early that hackers and scammers do use video clips to get access to users’ most personal details. I know quite a few “good” people whose reputations were “soiled” for clicking these online video clips. They had no knowledge, that by watching these clips, though in the privacy of their homes, they had become “conduits” for posting nude or pornographic contents on the internet.

I do not watch any of the much “advertised” and circulated Islamic States (IS) videos or those of the “animals in human skin” Shekau-led Boko Haram. Apart from the fact that they may be too gory for me, I also think watching and sharing the videos of these terrorists is like encouraging their dastardly acts. Why would I want to watch or share the video of a man slashing the throat of another human being, just because he thinks he can play god?

These clips have become so popular that some people watch them online for entertainment values. They not only watch, they think they owe their friends the duty of forwarding the videos to them. I often query the state of mind of the sharers and ask, what they hope to achieve by the sharing or tagging?

On Thursday morning, a friend of mine forwarded one of the South African video clips to me with the accompanying message: “This is probably the worst video I had seen in recent times. Let me know your views after watching.” My heart sank when I read his message. With the reviews I read online about these clips I had an idea of what the clips would contain. But I still asked myself if I was emotionally ready for it.

The video clip was a gory sight to watch, as human beings (foreigners) were tied up, doused in what looked like petrol and set on fire. It was very graphic. The most distressful part of the clip was onlookers urging the attackers on. It was too much for me to watch, so I stopped it and deleted it from my system.

I could not get over what I saw in the clip. I sank into my chair and questioned the sensibilities of these South Africans who had descended to the levels of animals in relating to their fellow Africans. I was quick to remind myself that this was actually not the first time South Africans have shown their xenophobic tendencies.

My insight into the height of hatred the South Africans have for their African and Asian brothers and sisters was in 2008 when I was on a chat with a close friend of mine who was resident in the country. He informed me of his intention to relocate out of the country because, according to him “these South African brothers are becoming funny.” He told me how earlier in the week, a few locals had come to his house to harass and threaten to kill him if he did not get out of South Africa.

Back then, I had no idea of what to make of his comments. A few weeks after the chat with my friend, the news of South Africans killing foreigners, especially Africans, shocked the world. And ever since, it had become an annual news item.

This year I have heard all the stories coming from South Africa. I had read a few weeks ago that the Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini called on foreigners to pack their bags and go back to where ever they came from. This, no doubt had buoyed the confidence of his people, as they poured out on to the streets, looting shops owned by foreigners and also hacking them down.

With the blame for the new attacks placed at the door step of King Goodwill Zwelithini, he wasted no time in denying the story credited to him about foreigners. The king said he had been “deliberately mistranslated” by the South African press so as to sell their newspapers. He however, had not told the world anything different from what the media are reporting.

South Africans have zero tolerance for their African brothers and sisters. Their leaders seemed to have brainwashed the citizens that all their economic woes should be blamed on foreigners, especially the ones that run businesses. Or how do you explain the looting of foreign-owned businesses? Any failure of their country is blamed on foreigners.

While the South African economy may not be growing enough to accommodate the number of citizens who had been marginalised as a result of the apartheid regime in past years, they felt foreigners in the country should be blamed for this. It is unfortunate that these types of sentiments are encouraged by leaders in the country.

The ill-informed King Zwelithini and his army of xenophobes should realise that these acts and behaviours have no place in modern society. They should cover their faces in shame as they tag their country as a place where visitors are not usually tolerated. And what a way to advertise the country as a “choice” destination for foreign investors!

As I mused over these unfortunate incidents in the country, my mind flashed back to the apartheid days of South Africa. I remembered how the world, especially, the African countries, rose to demand self rule for them. Not only did they demand self rule for South Africa, they supported the nationalists with roof over their heads, money, arms and ammunition to fight the colonialists.

Is this a fallout of the failure of the African National Congress-led government? Will this latest “craze” call for re-appraisal of ANC? Can the citizens look inward and maybe consider a change in their political system? Will it be out of place to say ANC has probably outlived its “good”?

 

Xenophobia: Dear South Africans, blame your leaders, not foreigners

Xenophobic Violence: South Africa not driving foreigners away – President Zuma

President Jacob Zuma said on Saturday his country is not driving foreigners away after days of violence against foreigners in parts of the country.

“As government, we’re not saying to you go away. It is not every South African who is saying go away. It is a very small number of people who say so,” Zuma told a group of displaced foreigners at a camp in Chatsworth, Durban.

Zuma was visiting the camp, accompanied by Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba and other government officials.

“We are firstly going to stop the violence then allow them to stay here. Even those who want to go home, they must know that when we have stopped the violence they are welcome to come back,” Zuma said.

But he said his government was ready help repatriate foreigners who want to go back to their home countries.

Despite the South African government’s pledge to ensure the safety of foreigners, some African countries are already beginning to repatriate their citizens.

Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa Isaac Moyo said Zimbabwe would on Sunday start repatriating about 1,000 Zimbabweans affected by the attacks in Durban.

The Malawi government has also started its repatriation process.

Zuma cancelled his visit to Indonesia in order to attend to matters at home relating to the attacks on foreign nationals.

He was due to leave for Indonesia Saturday evening for a state visit and to attend the Africa-Asia Summit and the commemoration of the historic summit in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955 which brought together Africa and Asia to push forward the struggle for liberation and self-determination.

Meanwhile, violence seemed to have abated in Durban and Johannesburg, where looting of foreign-owned shops was reported overnight.

Police said they are continuing to monitor the situation.

Xenophobic Violence: South Africa not driving foreigners away – President Zuma

Xenophobic Violence : Lives of Nigerians living in South Africa

Itunu Bodunrin, who on Monday had attended his master’s degree graduation ceremony at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, told our correspondent that he was unable to leave the school campus afterwards due to the violence in the town.

Bodunrin forwarded a text message to our correspondent which, according to him, had been circulated among South African residents via an instant messaging mobile application, WhatsApp.

In the message, signed by several groups, including the Patriotic Movement, Pan Local Forum, Unemployed Workers Forum and Anti-Crime Movement, Nigerians and other African foreigners were warned to leave the country.

It read in part,

“Dear neighbour from Africa and other parts of the world, we have travelled the world and have not found one country that allows the floods of humans across its borders as South Africa is experiencing. Even in war-torn parts like Syria, Ukraine, Yemen and Somali.

“We were seven million people in Johannesburg city in 2011. Today, we have an estimated 13 million. In Johannesburg alone, you have taken over entire suburbs: Yeoville, Berea, Bez Valley, Turfontein, among many. You have even moved into rural parts of our country that have 80-per-cent unemployment, and there are no visible signs that you have jobs either.

“We want to be proudly part of the geographic construct called Africa, but we are as different from one another as Kenyans are from Nigerians; Ivorians from Chadians, etc.

“We are pleading with you to return to your home countries. Go and build up those countries so that we can all live in economic, social and political prosperity and peace as neighbours. The genocide in this corner of Africa will be far worse than what happened in Rwanda in 1994. Then the entire continent will be condemned to ashes. Is that what you want?

“South Africans not fully employed or who were found guilty of crimes, were recently repatriated from Nigeria and rightly so.

“Our people are preparing for war against all foreigners (from Bulgaria, Pakistan and Bangladesh to Africa, north of the Limpopo) and we are all very scared. Please go home and build Africa. Millions will die if you don’t. This we can guarantee.”

Similarly, Samson Ojako, a master’s degree student studying Mathematics also at the University of KwaZulu-Natal noted that looting had been rampant for over a week.

“Those that opened their shops were attacked by the Zulu. During all of this, those of us on campus were warned by the school management to stay indoors. They said no one should leave the school premises, especially during the weekend.”

Ojako noted that a large number of Zulus often migrated from their villages into town on weekends in order to launch attacks on non-nationals.

He likened the last one week to life in a refugee camp, saying that those living on campus could not go out to shop for food.

“A lot of people are living in fear, especially the ladies. Even for us who are guys, last week, we had to move in groups,” he said.

Olawale Olawepo, another Nigerian studying for a doctorate degree in Industrial Organisation and Labour Studies said the school authorities also warned students against taking public transportation.

 

Culled from Punch

Xenophobic Violence : Lives of Nigerians living in South Africa

Xenophobic Violence: South Africa seeks diplomatic support

Pretoria – South Africa on Friday in Pretoria sought diplomatic support from countries across the continent to tackle the ongoing anti-immigrant violence in the country.

This was as a result of series of complaints by foreign nationals that the South African police are failing to protect them.

They said the crisis was stirring hostility to South Africans working abroad.

South African Foreign Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, told a reporter after the African diplomatic meeting in Pretoria, that there was urgent need to nip the crisis in the bud.

“We believe that working together we can defeat this demon,” she said.

Malawian Information Minister, Kondwani Nankhumwa, said on Friday that government has hired buses to repatriate 500 of its nationals from South Africa.

He urged South Africa to provide greater protection for immigrants, echoing demands from China and the African Union.

Kenya and some other African governments have also offered to evacuate any of their citizens who feel threatened.

Chadian Ambassador, Mahamoud Adam-Bachir, said the Pretoria meeting had helped to alleviate some safety concerns.

“It went better than expected, we were assured of the security of our nationals,” he said.

The Foreign Ministry of China, a major trade partner of South Africa, said Chinese-run shops had been damaged in Johannesburg.

The Chinese consulate said it has lodged a protest with the police and asked that they ensure the safety of Chinese people.

Meanwhile, Petrochemicals group Sasol, said it would repatriate 340 South Africans working in Mozambique after local employees at one of its gas projects protested about their presence.

An industry source said Mozambican employees at a sub-contractor for mining group Vale had become “hostile” to South Africans working on the Moatize project in that country but there had been no violence.

The police said at the Ressano Garcia, the border post between South Africa and Mozambique was closed after more than 200 Mozambicans barricaded a road approaching the crossing.

The police said the traffic was later resumed after they dispersed the protesters.

South Africa, with a population of about 50 million, was home to an estimated five million immigrants, from countries including Somalia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Malawi, and from further afield, including China and Pakistan.

Many own shops or sell wares as informal hawkers on street corners or in markets.

Periodic outbreaks of anti-immigrant violence have been blamed on high unemployment, officially around 25 per cent although economists say in reality much higher, widespread poverty and glaring income disparities.

 

Xenophobic Violence: South Africa seeks diplomatic support

Attacks: Zambian radio stops playing South African music

A radio station in Zambia on Friday black out the playing of South African music in protest against xenophobic attacks on immigrants currently taking place in that country.

Asan Nyama, QFM Radio station Managing Director, said the move to black out South African music indefinitely starting at 06:00 hours on Friday.

He explained that the action was in solidarity with Africans who have fallen victims to xenophobic attacks in Durban and Kwazulu-Natal provinces.

He said considering that QFM has a listenership not only in Zambia, but across the globe via live internet streaming and satellite platform, the station feels duty bound to voice out in protest at the attacks on foreign nationals by South Africans by stopping the air play of their music.

Nyama said this was not the first time that foreign nationals are being targeted in xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

He said there was need to send a clear message to South Africans that violence on fellow Africans negates African unity which the continent’s forefather fought for.

Nyama has called for the need for Africans to co-exist as brothers and sisters regardless of whichever country they come from.

He says QFM regrets the deaths of five people who have so far died in xenophobic attacks in South Africa, calling for an end to such brutal murders.

Nyama further called on the South African government to arrest the situation before more precious lives are lost, and bring the perpetrators of such heinous crimes to book.

Attacks: Zambian radio stops playing South African music

Xenophobic Violence: Kill one more Nigerian, we"ll kill 10 in Nigeria - Angry Nigerians tell SA govt.

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News

Nigerians living in South Africa took to the street of Durban on Thursday to register their anger over xenophobic violence by jobless homeland owners.

Victims of Xenophobic violence in South Africa.
Though a source said the man in the picture is a Nigerian, NCN could not verify the authenticity of the claim

A Nigerian living in Pretoria who spoke with NAIJA CENTER NEWS on the phone said they are praying it doesn’t get to Pretoria, but said that a Nigerian may had been reported killed

She said “The boys doing these things are jobless ones in South Africa, they believe other Africans had taken their jobs, whereas they are doing the job the fighters refused.

“Nigerians in South Africa have sent a message to South African government through the Nigerian embassy that if any Nigerian is killed again, ten South Africans will be murdered in Nigeria too.

“I trust Nigerians,they will fight back. These people are attacking the weaker nations like Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi. If they try Ghanaian, Cameroonians and Nigerians, they will be sorry.”

Another Nigerian who identified himself as Still GT, residing in the troubled country said ” The fact remains that Nigerians have made it clear that should one incident comes through whereby a Nigerian becomes a victim, there will be problems”

Ask if he could confirm the alleged death of a Nigerian, Mr. Towobola said ” This is not known yet, and has not reached us as yet, it must have been swept under the carpet as it is not known yet”

Meanwhile, President Zuma refused call the violence xenophobic violence.  He said since only Africans are being attacked, it is Afrophobic.

Meanwhile, as police continue to do everything within their reach to put the situation under control, popular South Africans have taken to twitter to express their displeasure over the ongoing incidence in South Africa.

Several Businesses, organisations, public figures posted anti-xenophobic message on twitter under different hashtags.

Several public figures, businesses and organisations posted anti-xenophobic messages under different hashtags.

Some of these included #xenophobiamustfall, #notoxenophobia, #xenophobia, #notinmyname, #xenophobicSA, #weareafrica, #xenophobicattacks and #saynotoxenophia.

Former head of the Refugee Help Desk, Jean-Pierre A Lukamba, said such platforms can help trigger positive change but urged government officials to go to the ground and mend relations among affected communities.

“It’s great to see people taking a stand against these violent attacks on social networks, but government officials can do more. They must act.

“We can’t continue pointing fingers at one another. This is a shared problem. Government must ensure that those coming to the country do so legally.

“It must also address issues of unemployment and decent education to ensure that all South Africans are aware of their rights and they respect the rights of others, irrespective of their nationality,” said Lukamba, as reported by enca.com

In another report, the Malawian government said on Monday it would repatriate its citizens who are affected following the attack of xenophobic violence in Durban, eastern port, which has left more than four people dead.

According to Malawian Information Minister, Kondwani Nankhumwa, “The situation is really tense as about 360 Malawians are stranded in South Africa following xenophobic attacks there,”

He noted that Malawians targeted had lost everything including their passports.

The attack started months ago in Soweto, near Johnanesburg as foreign-owned shops were attacked and properties worth million looted away.

Foreigners over 1000 in Durban had fled their various home under the guard of police to a temporary camp

Nearly 50 people have been arrested — 28 on Sunday night alone. Mr Nankhumwa said the Malawian embassy in Pretoria had started processing temporary travel documents for its nationals.

A member of the Nigerian House of Representative, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, has called for the evacuation of Nigerians within 24 hours from South Africa owing to ongoing attacks on non-indigenes. Ukeje (PDP-Abia) made the appeal in a phone interview with newsmen on Thursday in Ibadan.

Xenophobic Violence: Kill one more Nigerian, we"ll kill 10 in Nigeria - Angry Nigerians tell SA govt.