Nigerians in South Africa Call for Protection Following New Xenophobic Attacks

“As we speak, five buildings with Nigerian businesses, including a Church have been looted and burned by South Africans”, Dabir-Erewa quoted Anyene as saying. The march, he said, appears to target foreign nationals while the grievances are really the fault of the government and the SAPS in failing to tackle crime. Police tried to keep protesters apart from foreigners who gathered to express alarm about recent attacks.

The three-page memo bemoaned foreign nationals’ involvement in industries like retail, transport, and hospitality. These anti-foreigner beliefs are not held by the majority, but the few who do hold these views have succeeded in making the country feel like an “open prison”. “That is what they should do rather than making statements that actually exacerbate the feelings of the people”.

“Right now, what is happening is that we have also a situation whereby some of the migrants, unlike last time, say they are going to protect themselves and by that virtue sort of escalate the whole situation”.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba yesterday warned unethical businesses that employ illegal immigrants that they are going to be dealt with harshly and the managers will be arrested for not adhering to the law.

“Local industries are not supported and respected…”

Government’s calls for peace from those challenging foreigners in the country can seem insignificant given the current and past violence.

“Yes we are using the police; yes we are talking to the people, sensitizing them on our history and the contributions of Nigeria and other countries in ending apartheid”.

On living conditions, they said residents had to pay a lot of money toward rent, water and electricity, yet people who invaded land and RDP houses did not have to pay anything.

The Minister, addressing a news conference, after delivering a statement on the floor of the House, said a hotline had been set, through social media and telephone for prompt response to any emergency.

“We urge unity among both our citizens and non-nationals in the fight against crime”, the President concluded. “Although these figures are undoubtedly imperfect, they are better than any other data out there”. “Those are the gaps we need to close”.

Olunloyo, an upholsterer from Lagos, founded the online community forum Lagos To Jozi to help Nigerians living in South Africa access information on “how to live, study or earn a living legitimately within the Republic”.

He said only 5% of immigrants were refugees.

In April 2015, Nigeria recalled its top diplomat in South Africa to discuss the anti-immigrant attacks that sent hundreds of foreigners fleeing to safety camps, as authorities sent in soldiers to quell unrest in Johannesburg and Durban.