Recently, the Nigerian Community in South Africa came under
fresh xenophobic attacks and there was widespread looting of Nigerian-owned
properties and businesses in Pretoria West. According to the president of the
community, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, the union received information that there would
be xenophobic attacks against foreigners on February 22 and 23. Consequently,
all Nigerians in South Africa were advised to be vigilant in the face of
renewed attacks.
These xenophobic attacks in South Africa started in
December, 1994 and January, 1995, when armed youth gangs in Alexandra Township
outside Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, destroyed homes and properties 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 followed by a series of more violent attacks across
the country in 1998, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2016. In August 2000 for
instance, seven xenophobic killings were reported in the Cape Flats district of
Cape Town. Among those attacked and killed were two Nigerians.
In 2016 alone, about
20 Nigerians were killed in an extra-judicial manner and there are several
other incidents of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, even though
Nigeria’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan signed a Memorandum of
Understanding to reinforce diplomatic ties in 2013 when there were xenophobic
attacks on Nigerians.
These attacks came notwithstanding the contributions Nigeria
made towards the liberation of South Africa during the apartheid era. Which is
why I shudder and wonder, why all these attacks?
Many Nigerians have been killed in xenophobic attacks over
the years and the South African Government should bear in mind that Nigerians
know that they also have vast interests and businesses here. More so, there are
South Africans who live and work here too, so they should not put their people
in jeopardy.
South Africa has a lot of business interests in Nigeria such
as MTN and Shoprite which is springing up all over the place. No report has
ever been made that they were harassed. Now, the Nigerian Communications
Commission is bent on reviewing upwards, the price of data and voice calls in
Nigeria to the detriment of Nigerians. Even with the intervention of the
National Assembly, NCC is bent on doing that just to protect the interest of
foreigners.
The attack is purely criminal because they looted shops and
homes before burning them down. Quite
frankly, black South Africans lack self-esteem and may be jealous of other
successful Africans. They were misinformed that they were better than other
Africans. They got the shock of their lives when apartheid ended and there was
an influx of African engineers, lecturers, doctors, et al into South Africa.
These Africans filled the vacuum that was created by fleeing white South
Africans and that is why they feel that Nigerians have taken over their jobs.
As a matter of urgency, the Federal Government of Nigeria should persuade its
South African counterpart to protect Nigerians in their country because they
cannot continue to live in fear and uncertainty.
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