•A man kicks a burning piece of furniture during a riot in the Johannesburg suburb of Turffontein
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland, Joseph Ayalogu, has advised Nigeria and other African countries to demand compensation from the South African government for victims of xenophobic attacks in the Rainbow Nation.
Ayalogu said this during an interview on Channels Television today.
“It’s unfortunate that they are targeting people’s businesses. I have seen some of the posts [on social media where people are] deliberately going to people’s businesses and taking over their businesses. It’s unfortunate, and the government has to even begin to think of compensating even the people who have lost their livelihood and investments there,” Ayalogu said on the breakfast show.
“These are the things that countries, African countries, Nigeria included, should forcibly demand from the South African Government. We need affirmative action from the government of South Africa to really call this to order, rein in their people, and use the law. They have the law that prevents such attacks, so it’s a matter of implementing it.”
The recent wave of xenophobic attacks has seen businesses destroyed and several countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, repatriating their citizens from South Africa.
That development has raised concerns among millions of Africans who have called on the South African authorities to address the matter.
However, Anyalogu believes the South African government has not done enough to stem xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans.
“I am not satisfied with what the government has done. Even the rhetoric of the president [of South Africa],” he said. “They should be firm to say, ‘This is not right or acceptable; it’s a criminal offence to do this,’ and put out the police or whatever they have in the street to call as many people who get involved in all that to order.”
It Is Largely Afrophobic
Ayalogu claimed that the attacks are ‘largely Afrophobic’, as the masterminds are not targeting people from other continents.
“You wouldn’t say it’s xenophobic because it’s largely Afrophobic. They are not bothered, picking out Americans, Dutch, or Europeans in their midst who are actually evidently living much better than most of them. So, their bad feeling seems to be targeted at Africans,” he noted.
Nigeria Repatriates Citizens, Security Beefed Up
His comment comes amid the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa, which have led to a couple of deaths and the destruction of businesses.
Nigerian authorities, including the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have condemned the attacks, insisting that “enough is enough”.
This has led to the evacuation of 258 Nigerians from South Africa. The Federal Government said the evacuation was undertaken to protect Nigerians facing threats, harassment, and violence.
Amid the attacks, South African police boosted deployments nationwide ahead of a June 30 deadline set by fringe anti-illegal immigration groups for undocumented foreigners to leave the country.
Small but organised groups have issued an ultimatum for undocumented migrants to exit or face consequences, a demand with no legal force.
“The South African Police Service has elevated its operational readiness across all provinces, with comprehensive deployment plans in place to protect communities, critical infrastructure and key public spaces,” acting police minister Firoz Cachalia said.
He stressed the right to peaceful protest but warned: “Criminality, intimidation, violence, the destruction of property and any attempt to undermine public safety will not be tolerated.”
The military would secure strategic sites such as airports and stand ready to assist police if needed, said Defence Minister Angie Motshekga.
“Indeed, if, and I hope it is not going to reach that point, [that we are] called upon by the police to support, we will, but basically ours is around the key points,” she said.
