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.”
South Africa denied almost half of them from coming yesterday . They claimed documentation. But they will still return subsequently .And flyairpeace Chairman says he is on standby . Great gesture https://t.co/gXggHp6eBB— Abike Dabiri-Erewa (abikedabiri) September 12, 2019
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.
Welcome Home!! flyairpeace CEO, Mr Allen Onyema welcomes back the Nigerians stranded in South-Africa amid Xenophobic attacks after sending a free evacuation/rescue flight at the MMIA Cargo & Hajj Terminal in Lagos on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/QanKasdhPw— Air Peace (flyairpeace) September 12, 2019
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.
TRAVEL ADVISORY – SOUTH AFRICAMIACBW wishes to advise all Batswana traveling to South Africa to exercise extreme caution in light of recent developments resulting in violent unrests in some parts of the Republic of South Africa. pic.twitter.com/hfYTjPlP4o— Botswana Government (BWGovernment) September 4, 2019
September 4, 2019: Zambia president’s statement [Facebook]
I wish to condemn the ongoing attacks in South Africa in all its forms and manifestations.
Attacks of this nature targeted at foreign nationals call for urgent concerted measures by the South African Government and the regional bodies .
I call on all Zambians both locally and abroad to remain calm and disengage from acts of violence as they voice out their grievance.
I wish to assure you all that together, we are working on solutions to combat these acts of violence and bring back the spirit of Ubuntu.
Let us continue praying for peace and unity across the region.
September 3, 2019: Ramaphosa Buhari reaction, Lagos reprisals
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has reacted to xenophobic violence in parts of the country condemning the incidents as unacceptable and without any justification whatsoever.
In a video posted on his personal Twitter handle, Ramaphosa stressed the importance of restoring peace and security as quickly as practicable.
“I condemn the violence that has been spreading around a number of our provinces in the strongest terms,” he said.
He added that he was convening all ministers in the security cluster today to make sure that a very close eye was kept on what he described as “acts of wanton violence” and find ways of stopping them.
Ramaphosa said it was not right for locals with grievances to attack other nationals. He tasked security forces for their efforts at restoring order in Kwa Zulu Natal and Guateng provinces.
He also cited the fact that with an increasingly integrated Africa, South African workers also risked being attacked in other countries if others are to met out the same treatment South Africans are exhibiting today.
The people of our country want to live in harmony; whatever concerns or grievances we may have, we need to handle them in a democratic way. There can be no justification for any South African to attack people from other countries. pic.twitter.com/StGyNlhV1q— Cyril Ramaphosa ?? (@CyrilRamaphosa) September 3, 2019
Reports indicate that looting and clashes with security forces continued today in some parts of the country. Police have also confirmed more arrests in addition to the over forty recorded on Monday.
Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe governments and the Somali community in South Africa have reacted to the incidents.
The African Union Commission through Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat also condemned the violence and said it backed South African measures to restore law and order.
03 September 2019, Addis Abeba: AU statement on xenophobia in South Africa
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat condemns in the strongest terms, the incidents of violence against nationals of fellow African countries in South Africa, including the looting and destruction of their property.
The Chairperson is encouraged by arrests already made by the South African authorities.He calls for further immediate steps to protect the lives of people and their property, ensure that all perpetrators are brought to account for their acts, and that justice be done to those who suffered economic and other losses.The Chairperson reiterates the African Union’s Commission continued commitment to support the South African government in addressing the root causes that led to these despicable acts, in order to promote peace and stability, within the framework of the African Union’s longstanding principles of continental solidarity
