SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY IN NIGERIA CLOSED AFTER RETALIATORY ATTACKS

Lagos NIGERIA

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.