September 18, 2019: More Nigerians repatriated
More than 300 Nigerians arrived in the country’s commercial capital, Lagos on Wednesday, having been evacuated from South Africa, following the recent wave of xenophobic attacks.
Local media reported that an Air Peace plane with 315 Nigerians aboard landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Wednesday night. This is the second batch of returnees, following last week’s 187.
The Lagos state government reportedly gave $55 to each returnee, with a pledge that they would be transferred to the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, where they can be equipped with different skills.
Nigeria’s government has urged its citizens who are stranded in South Africa to return home, as the latter cracks down on immigrants without proper documentation.
South Africa apologises
Nigeria’s president on Monday thanked his South African counterpart for sending a special envoy to apologise over the recent xenophobic attacks.
The special envoy, Jeff Radebe told president Muhammadu Buhari that the attacks on foreigners do not represent South Africa’s “value system, nor those of the larger number of South Africans”.
Radebe regretted the loss of life during the attacks in which 8 South Africans and 2 Zimbabweans were killed, adding that his country is committed to peace and integration of the continent.
Over the weekend, president Cyril Ramaphosa announced that he would send high-ranking emissaries to reassure different African countries following the xenophobic attacks, in which their nationals were targeted.
Radebe and Buhari, both highlighted the role that Nigeria played during the liberation struggle to end the apartheid system in South Africa.
Buhari is scheduled to visit South Africa next month, a visit that Radebe hopes will solidify the relationship between the two countries.
September 12: South Africa ‘blocking’ Nigerian returnees
The first batch of Nigerians fleeing xenophobic violence in South Africa returned home via the commercial city of Lagos.
But head of the country’s Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa says South Africa had blocked a number of them from leaving citing documentation issues. Reports have said around 600 Nigerians in total were scheduled to return home.
The contingent of about 200 people were flown in aboard privately-owned Nigerian airline, Air Peace. Asked about why only 200 nationals had returned, she responded on Twitter: “South Africa denied almost half of them from coming yesterday. They claimed documentation. But they will still return subsequently.
A number of the returnees expressed joy at being home whiles condemning the violence by South African thugs which forced their decision.
Some of them displayed “No to xenophobia” placards as they descended from the flight. Amongst them were adults, teenagers and children. The airline has been roundly hailed for the gesture, its officials joined in the “No To Xenophobia” campaign.
Emmanuel Iyoha, a returnee told the press: “I went there to South Africa when I was just 6 years old, I spent about 10 years there so coming back, it’s a new experience so I am happy because I feel safe.
“… normally even to go to school I’m scared to go to school and all that like sometimes I can’t even think when my sister is at work, so she is the one I have been thinking of since but I’m happy that I am here.”
“With the whole situation, killing and looting shops and everything. I just decided no, it’s time to come back home,” Temilade Tosunde also said.
September 11: Looting in Mpumalanga Province
As South Africa struggles to curb attacks on foreign-owned businesses, a new attack was reported by a journalist and lawyer who tweets about crime and security issues in the country.
Yusuf Abramjee posted a video on Twitter on Wednesday of an attack on a foreign-owened shop in a suburb of the Mpumalanga province.
Locals are seen carting away materials from a shop as the expatriate owners of the electronic shop fight back by attacking some of the looters.
No reports of deaths or injuries have been recorded in the latest incident. It is the first such in the province given that the violence of last week and early this week was concentrated in Guateng and Kwa Zulu Natal Provinces.
President Ramaphosa had in condemning the violence stressed that measures were being taken to ensure that the violence does not mutate. South Africa has suffered international backlash for the xenophobic attacks.
September 10: Mozambique blasts SA xenophobia
Mozambican president Filipe Nyusi on Tuesday commented on xenophobic incidents in neighbouring South Africa, issuing a stern condemnation of the acts.
The privately-owned STV Noticias reported the president as saying over 500 Mozambicans lost their homes due to the violence.
He also said the government had activated processes to repatriate affected nationals. Mozambique becomes the second African nation to do so.
Nigeria, who have been most vocal in the wake of the violence in Johannesburg and other suburbs said over 600 of its citizens were ready to be airlifted back home.
Meanwhile South African ministers in the security cluster met on Tuesday and made stern pronouncements on clamping down on the issue of illegal migration.
“With regards to hiring of undocumented foreign nationals, we will clamp down on private business owners who do not abide by the labour and immigration laws. Home Affairs, Police Service and department of labour will intensify inspections,” the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster said.
Bullet points of major incidents around the issue:
South Africa to tighten its immigration
Nigeria government cautions SA to get grip on security
MTN, Shoprite others bemoan impact of closing shops in Nigeria
Nigeria government debunks news of bomb attack at SA embassy
Nigeria to repatriate over 600 citizens, MPs vow to push for compensation
South Africa police operation to verify foreigners in Pretoria
Ghana confirms injury of three citizens, arrest of five others
Nigeria FM slams South African counterpart
Madagascar calls off friendly with South Africa
Air Tanzania suspends flights to South Africa
Anti-South Africa protests in DRC
Nigerian Airline to airlift citizens back home for free
South Africa says arrests at 289, death toll stands at 5
Kenya says two of its citizens were killed
South Africa must do more to stop xenophobia – Amnesty International
Nigeria issues South Africa Travel Advisory
Local airline, Air Peace, offers free evacuation of Nigerians
Nigeria pulls out of World Economic Forum on Africa, ongoing in Cape Town
Reprisal attacks were recorded in Lagos and Ibadan
Abuja issued statement calling for calm and restraint
Nigeria police beefs up security at SA-owned businesses
Regional body, Southern Africa Development Community, SADC; voices condemnation
Botswana issues South Africa travel advisory
MTN shuts all shops across Nigeria
Zambia shuts three South African malls
Zambia football body cancels match with SA
Nigeria looking to repatriate about 600
Over 600 Nigerians will be voluntarily returning home according from South Africa according to head of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri.
The first news of repatriation was from a local airline, Air Peace which made the offer last week. Its plans were impacted by lack of documentation of beneficiaries. The embassy stepped in to provide necessary papers.
The first batch are expected to leave on two flights on Wednesday, Nigeria’s Consul General in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, told the BBC.
Only those who were under distress as a result of the attacks would leave the country, he added. The government via president Buhari also issued a statement for voluntary repatriation of all Nigerians living in South Africa.
Ms Dabiri has also called for the South African government to pay compensation to victims of the xenophobic violence that has so far claimed a dozen lives. Lawmakers in Nigeria’s lower chamber have also said they will push for compensation.
September 8, 2019: Fresh violence erupts in Johannesburg
At least two people have died and dozens arrested following fresh xenophobic attacks in South Africa’s Johannesburg city on Sunday.
Local Eyewitness News reported that a group of men had raided the city’s central business district on Sunday morning, demanding that foreigners leave the area.
The city’s police chief David Tembe confirmed that two people had died from gun shot wounds and stabbing, adding that cars, buildings and businesses had been vandalised.
“I think this is pure criminality because some of the shops that were burned did not belong to the foreigners, it belonged to South Africans,’‘ Tembe said.