As the xenophobic attacks on Africans in South Africa continue
unabated, the House of Representatives has called on the federal
government and President Goodluck Jonathan to, as a matter of urgency,
recall Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the country, warning that Nigeria
will no longer tolerate the killing of its citizens.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent matter of public importance moved at plenary yesterday by the chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Matters, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on the xenophobic attacks on Africans in South Africa.
The House noted sadly that the recent attacks which have left many dead, businesses and shops vandalised and many beaten up, was incited by a statement alledgedly made by the South African Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, who was said to have ordered African migrants to return to their countries as they are no longer welcome in South Africa.
“Nigeria frowns at the attacks and will no longer tolerate the killing of its nationals in South Africa. President Goodluck Jonathan must immediately convey this to President Zuma as a matter of urgency”.
Attacking foreigners will not solve South Africa’s problems – Durban Mayor
The mayor of Durban in South Africa, James Nxumalo, yesterday condemned the attack on foreigners, saying attacking foreigners would not solve the country’s problems.
He spoke in Cape Town at a rally against xenophobia organised by the International Peace Youth Group, an NGO.
“Local people involved in xenophobic attacks blame foreigners for taking up local employment, doing illegal business and even committing crimes. These foreigners are our brothers and sisters. We have the same blood. Blood is thicker than water. Go out into your communities and urge people to stop these attacks,” he said.
The group said the rally was organised to show solidarity with foreigners under attack in the latest spate of violence that swept across several townships around Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province.
Many South Africans came from other provinces to join the march at the Durban City Hall.
Durban has been a hotspot of xenophobic violence that erupted on March 25.
Five people were killed and dozens of others were injured in the violence.
Hundreds of shops and homes owned by foreigners have been looted and thousands of foreigners displaced.
The violence spread to Johannesburg on Wednesday where locals and foreigners clashed, leaving several people injured.
Foreigners under attack are mostly from Nigeria, Somalia, Malawi, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe.
Nigerians Are Safe In S/Africa – FG
The federal government insisted yesterday that Nigerians residing in South Africa are safe, the increasing incidence of xenophobic attacks in that country notwithstanding.
The xenophobic violence being triggered by South Africans who feel foreigners were taking jobs that belong to them had compelled several countries, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi to arrange for the repatriation of their citizens.
Thousands of people are said to be marching in Durban to protest against the violence.
But according to foreign affairs minister, Ambassador Aminu Wali, the federal government is in close touch with the South African authorities regarding the safety of its citizens.
Addressing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday, Wali said, “With the discussions I have been having with Nigeria’s head of mission in Pretoria, no Nigerian has so far been affected”.
“They informed me that they have called the Nigerian community and addressed them and told them to close their shops, stay home and keep out of trouble and obey the laws of South Africa. They have also confirmed that the South African authorities have moved in to take actions that would forestall any further disturbance in South Africa”.
“If it gets worse, it is the duty of our country to make sure our people are brought back, and we are taking that duty serious. We are not prepared to allow any of our nationals to be subjected to such inhuman treatment.
“We are not being reactionary because this is happening to all foreigners, not Nigerians alone. We are monitoring the situation and will take action according to the situation that develops”.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent matter of public importance moved at plenary yesterday by the chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Matters, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on the xenophobic attacks on Africans in South Africa.
The House noted sadly that the recent attacks which have left many dead, businesses and shops vandalised and many beaten up, was incited by a statement alledgedly made by the South African Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, who was said to have ordered African migrants to return to their countries as they are no longer welcome in South Africa.
“Nigeria frowns at the attacks and will no longer tolerate the killing of its nationals in South Africa. President Goodluck Jonathan must immediately convey this to President Zuma as a matter of urgency”.
Attacking foreigners will not solve South Africa’s problems – Durban Mayor
The mayor of Durban in South Africa, James Nxumalo, yesterday condemned the attack on foreigners, saying attacking foreigners would not solve the country’s problems.
He spoke in Cape Town at a rally against xenophobia organised by the International Peace Youth Group, an NGO.
“Local people involved in xenophobic attacks blame foreigners for taking up local employment, doing illegal business and even committing crimes. These foreigners are our brothers and sisters. We have the same blood. Blood is thicker than water. Go out into your communities and urge people to stop these attacks,” he said.
The group said the rally was organised to show solidarity with foreigners under attack in the latest spate of violence that swept across several townships around Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province.
Many South Africans came from other provinces to join the march at the Durban City Hall.
Durban has been a hotspot of xenophobic violence that erupted on March 25.
Five people were killed and dozens of others were injured in the violence.
Hundreds of shops and homes owned by foreigners have been looted and thousands of foreigners displaced.
The violence spread to Johannesburg on Wednesday where locals and foreigners clashed, leaving several people injured.
Foreigners under attack are mostly from Nigeria, Somalia, Malawi, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe.
Nigerians Are Safe In S/Africa – FG
The federal government insisted yesterday that Nigerians residing in South Africa are safe, the increasing incidence of xenophobic attacks in that country notwithstanding.
The xenophobic violence being triggered by South Africans who feel foreigners were taking jobs that belong to them had compelled several countries, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi to arrange for the repatriation of their citizens.
Thousands of people are said to be marching in Durban to protest against the violence.
But according to foreign affairs minister, Ambassador Aminu Wali, the federal government is in close touch with the South African authorities regarding the safety of its citizens.
Addressing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday, Wali said, “With the discussions I have been having with Nigeria’s head of mission in Pretoria, no Nigerian has so far been affected”.
“They informed me that they have called the Nigerian community and addressed them and told them to close their shops, stay home and keep out of trouble and obey the laws of South Africa. They have also confirmed that the South African authorities have moved in to take actions that would forestall any further disturbance in South Africa”.
“If it gets worse, it is the duty of our country to make sure our people are brought back, and we are taking that duty serious. We are not prepared to allow any of our nationals to be subjected to such inhuman treatment.
“We are not being reactionary because this is happening to all foreigners, not Nigerians alone. We are monitoring the situation and will take action according to the situation that develops”.
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