Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA
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.
The attacks come ahead of the
beginning of the African edition of the World Economic Forum in Cape Town on
September 4 and before a state visit to South Africa by President Muhammadu
Buhari of Nigeria, a country whose nationals have been affected, next month.
“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.”
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.
Other Nigerian politicians,
including former presidential election candidate Oby Ezekwesili called for
stronger intervention by the government.
South African looters take items from an alleged foreign-owned shops during a riot in the Johannesburg suburb of Turffontein. |
Zambia warned its truck drivers,
many of whom drive goods south to the South African port of Durban, to stay out
of the country.
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.
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.
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