The South African embassy in Lagos, Nigeria,
was forced to close its doors on Wednesday after it came under attack, EWN and
eNCA reported.
The
Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) reportedly said
it was assessing the damage. It was reported that a vehicle was vandalized during demonstrations.
Anti-riot policemen try to calm down protesters during a demonstration and attacks against South African owned shops in Abuja, on September 4, 2019 |
Some South African businesses operating in Nigeria,
including MTN, have reportedly closed until further notice after being
attacked. This follows a spate of attacks on in South Africa since the weekend
in which some foreign-owned businesses were targeted.
Violence across Gauteng resulted in seven
confirmed deaths and more than 180 arrests as police and residents clashed, News24 reported.
Several areas in the province were plagued by violent protests and looting
since Sunday.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari's
government summoned South Africa's envoy to the World Economic Forum (WEF) on
Tuesday and said it would dispatch a delegation to Pretoria to express
"deep concern" over attacks on Nigerians, AFP reported.
Buhari "has noted with deep concern,
reported attacks on Nigerian citizens and property in South Africa since August
29, 2019", his presidency said in a statement.
The president ordered the foreign minister to
summon the South African envoy for a brief on the situation, to express
Nigeria's displeasure and to get guarantees for the safety of its citizens and
their property.
A special envoy from Buhari was due to arrive
in Pretoria on Thursday to convey his displeasure to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
A Nigerian government spokesperson said on
Wednesday night that Buhari was "distraught at the acts of vandalism that
have taken place here in Nigeria in retaliation to what is happening in South
Africa. We have to take the moral higher ground."
Lauretta Onochie, an aide to Buhari, tweeted on
Wednesday: "We cannot be seen to be doing what we condemn in South Africa
by vandalising Businesses linked to South Africa in Nigeria. We are the
victims. Let’s not be the oppressors too. (sic)"
Dirco's Lunga Ngqengelele told EWN: "There
were some people who attacked the embassy. We are still trying to verify the
information in terms of the damage that might have occurred. Fortunately, no
one has been injured."
In the meantime, a culture war is brewing
between South Africa its sister countries and Zambia became the latest African
country to take a stand against SA business.
Videos have surfaced online of a Pick n Pay store
in Lusaka being ransacked by locals, who are looting the establishment as part
of a revenge plot. Foreign store owners in Mzansi had their businesses raided
by gatvol locals who are blaming immigrants for a number of societal ills, and
five people have died as a result of the violence.
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