Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians by South Africans have been said to have reoccurred in South Africa on Tuesday. The attacks which occurred at Witbank area of Mpumalanga province were confirmed by Adetola Olubajo, President of the Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA).
Speaking to PUNCH, Olubajo said;
“The Department of Home Affairs, which is like our own Ministry of Interior that deals with immigration and citizens’ issues, is in the (South African) parliament briefing the parliament on migration today,” he was quoted to have said.
“While that is going on, there is an attack on foreign nationals in Witbank area of Mpumalanga Province and there are some locations mainly in Extension 10, even the police commander there was giving a warning to foreign nationals to be careful.
“Though no death has been recorded so far, there has been loss of properties and people have been injured. At the last count, there were four of them injured and they are Nigerians.”
Olubajo, expressed sadness and disappointment over the attacks, considering efforts made by the government of both Nigeria and South Africa to ensure a stop was put on xenophobia.
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He said;
“We are very saddened that, even after all the efforts of the two governments to forge ahead with good programmes and suggestions here and there, this kind of thing happened,” he said.
“It is so unfortunate because they have to go back to the drawing board or speed up the implementation of some of the mechanisms they agreed on.
“I am saddened because a Nigerian was also stabbed to death a few days ago in Empangeni and the culprits are still at large. And we believe that if there is no deterrent for some of the perpetrators of these crimes against Africans, Nigerians in particular, these things will continue to happen.”
But they were asked to leave South Africa and Air Peace offered free air transport and they refused.
What is their reason to staying back? Is it to garner sympathy or what? Or to smear the FGN?