Thread: Foreigners targeted in new outbreak of xenophobic violence

Foreigners targeted in new outbreak of xenophobic violence in South Africa

• Unrest in Johannesburg evoked memories of anti-immigrant violence in 2015

Bloomberg
Published: 11:01am, 3 Sep, 2019

South African looters take items from an alleged foreign-owned shops during a riot in the Johannesburg suburb of Turffontein. Photo: AFP



South Africa has been hit by an outbreak of xenophobic violence in its biggest city, attracting criticism from other African nations in the week political and business leaders from at least 28 countries gather in Cape Town.

A spate of violence that broke out in suburbs south of Johannesburg’s city centre on Sunday and spread to the central business district on Monday saw the destruction of more than 50 mainly foreign-owned shops and business premises.

Cars and properties were torched and widespread looting took place.

“We believe that these attacks are xenophobic,” said Dewa Mavhinga, southern Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

The attacks came ahead of the beginning of the African edition of the World Economic Forum in Cape Town on Wednesday and before a state visit to South Africa by President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, a country whose nationals have been affected, next month.


Burnt out cars on the outskirts of Johannesburg. Photo: AP

“The continuing attacks on Nigerian nationals and businesses in South Africa are unacceptable,” the government of Nigeria said on Twitter.


“Enough is enough. Nigeria will take definitive measures to ensure safety and protection of her citizens.”

Police Minister Bheki Cele insisted recent violence was linked to “criminality” rather than “xenophobia”.

The violence echoes sporadic outbreaks of attacks mainly targeting migrants from other African countries in some of South Africa’s poorest areas.

In 2008 about 60 people were killed and over 50,000 forced from their homes and in 2015 seven people died in violence. Migrants are seen as competition for scarce jobs and government services.

Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Nigerians, Bangladeshi and Pakistani immigrants have previously been the target of the violence.


A member of the South African Police Service reaches for his gun in front of a looted shop during a riot in the Johannesburg suburb of Turffontein. Photo: AFP

Other Nigerian politicians, including former presidential election candidate Oby Ezekwesili called for stronger intervention by the government.

Zambia warned its truck drivers, many of whom drive goods south to the South African port of Durban, to stay out of the country.

Human Rights Watch last week reported that dozens of truck drivers in the country had died in attacks against foreigners since March 2018.

South African politicians condemned the violence, in which one person was shot dead, according to eNCA, a local television station. At least 41 people were arrested.

How the South Africa election is being shaped by xenophobia and apathy

Still, politicians from the ruling African National Congress have in the past made anti-immigrant comments and Johannesburg’s mayor, Herman Mashaba, has attracted criticism from human rights groups for his frequent attacks on undocumented migrants.

Mashaba is a member of the opposition Democratic Alliance.

The violence is “unacceptable”, Ace Magashule, the secretary general of the ANC, said in remarks broadcast on television.

“We condemn this violence which is taking place, irrespective of whatever reasons people want to give,” he said.

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/afri...e-south-africa

Nigerians attack South African businesses in retaliation

By SAM OLUKOYA
SEP. 4, 2019 8:36 AM
ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAGOS, Nigeria — South African-owned businesses operating in Nigeria are being targeted with violence in retaliation for xenophobic attacks carried out against Africans working in South Africa.

Police in South African arrested more than 100 people in five areas impacted by days of violence in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Amid a growing outcry about the attacks on many Nigerians living in South Africa, youths took to the streets Tuesday evening in some Nigerian cities to attack South African owned businesses.

The offices of South Africa telecommunications giant MTN in the southwest city of Ibadan were set ablaze Tuesday while the company’s office in Uyo in the southeast was attacked by an angry crowd that vandalized properties, according to local newspaper reports.

Shattered glass, tires and damaged printers lay in the vandalized MTN shops in the Surulere neighborhood of Lagos, which on Wednesday had police vans outside.

“They broke into the shop, carrying laptops and many other things away,” Bala Muhammed told The Associated Press. “I had to close my kiosk because I was afraid because some people will use the opportunity to come steal. It has happened before as they are lots of people you won’t know who to hold responsible.”

The Lagos outlet of South African clothing retailer PEP in Surulere was also attacked and looted.

“The crowd surged and within a few minutes the shop was empty,” Stephen Obafemi told AP.

The Lagos State Government in a press statement Wednesday confirmed that two outlets of the South African supermarket chain Shoprite were attacked in Lagos.

“These attacks are condemned as they are against the Nigerian spirit of accommodation and benevolence that the country in general and Lagos State in particular is noted for,” Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso said in a statement.

Many South African owned businesses in parts of the country are now under police protection.

Nigeria and South Africa are Africa’s largest economies. Nigeria has a large immigrant community in South Africa while South Africa has huge business interests in Nigeria. These include telecommunications, banking, energy, hotel and media.

Years of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa has led to growing sentiments against South African companies doing business in Nigeria, with many Nigerians calling for their closure.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday condemned the days of widespread looting and arson on foreign-owned businesses.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said he had dispatched a Special Envoy to South Africa to convey his concerns to President Ramaphosa.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...904-story.html