A report has claimed that about 26 Nigerians were injured and hospitalised, while properties, including cars and shops worth millions of rands (billions of naira) were destroyed in the xenophobic attacks linked to the controversial installation of a Nigerian as Igwe Ndigbo in South Africa.
Recall that South Africans took to the streets of Albany and Buffalo under KuGombo, popularly known as East London, to protest against the coronation of a Nigerian Igbo chief, Solomon Eziko, which took place in early March.
The installation was met with outrage from South Africans, who cited clashes with traditional values and disrespect for their country’s sovereignty.
The President of the Nigerian Citizen Association South Africa, Rev Frank Onyekwelu, who spoke to Punch on the matter, revealed that South Africans used the opportunity to launch xenophobic attacks.
According to him, before the demonstrations, South Africans had been threatening Nigerians and other foreigners.
“A number of them have been going with the agenda that they want to reclaim South Africa for South Africans. Hence they want all African foreigners, legally or illegally, to go. As a result of that, they have been pushing out hate speeches against foreigners in the public, social media, television, and radio,” Onyekwelu said.
The Nigerian community leader said South Africans marched to the streets in East London to hide under the guise of the coronation to destroy Nigerian businesses, loot their shops and burn their cars.
“They said even if the world sees it as xenophobic, they don’t care. They claimed that they fought against apartheid by themselves.
“Properties of Nigerians were damaged, cars were torched, and businesses were looted, particularly in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.
“In other places where there were no attacks, they approached Nigerians, hauled their goods on the streets, told them to vacate the areas, and leave South Africa. There were threats to the lives and properties of Nigerians,” he added.
Onyekwelu described it as “an act of stereotype, xenophobic attacks and prejudice against their own African brothers.”
“They cannot do this to Westerners like Chinese, Indians and Europeans living in their country. These people are occupying large places, properties, industries and farms in South Africa, and South Africans cannot do anything to them.
“It will interest you that there is a place in the Northern Cape called Orania. It is a secluded area where these people live and have their own currency, bylaws, amenities, and South Africans are aware of it. But they (Westerners) strictly prohibit anyone who is not from their tribe or region from going.”
He decried the persistent attacks South Africans unleashed on Nigerians as “prejudiced and xenophobic.”
However, another Nigerian who spoke with the aforementioned publication blamed the reported attacks on the coronation, describing it as a “most stupid thing.”
The source also said that though the protests had subsided, there were reports of protesters regrouping to continue attacks on Nigerians.
“The crowning of the Igwe is the most stupid thing any African migrants could have done in South Africa in a Municipal election year, at a time when there is high anti-migrant sentiment.
“We received information about another planned protest and asked our members with businesses in the Central Business District to lock up their shops,” he said.
According to the source, Nigerians are not the only victims, though primarily the targets.
“Parts of Buffalo Street and Albany Street were affected by the violent protest. Somalians, Pakistanis, Ethiopians and some South African shops in that area were affected,” he added.
The source said some Nigerians foresaw a problem and warned leaders of the Nigerian community before Eziko was installed as Igwe Ndigbo in early March.
He said some leaders attempted to speak against the inauguration of the Igbo chieftaincy title, but the majority turned a blind eye.
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