South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby Monroe, has said that reports of attacks on foreigners in his country were not xenophobic and not targeted at Nigerians residing in the former apartheid enclave.
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The South African Envoy said this in a media briefing when he was summoned by the Minister of Foreigner Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, on Tuesday to explain the incessant xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
He described the attacks as ‘sporadic acts of violence,’ adding that businesses belonging to other South Africans were also affected in the violence.
In an earlier statement, the envoy said that the South African government had condemned the use of violence and crime to address alleged grievances perpetrated by foreigners in the country even as it reiterated its determination to halt the incessant attacks against foreigners in South Africa.
The High Commission in the statement called for calm and restraint in certain parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, as community members raised their concerns and grievances about various issues affecting them.
“No amount of grievance or unhappiness can justify the looting of shops, destruction of properties and illegal blocking of roads. Such acts constitute a criminal offence and the law enforcement agencies must respond without any fear or favour
“We are a democratic state that promotes robust dialogue and engagement with the dissatisfied communities. As a government, we will not allow anarchy and violence to be the order of the day. We commend the quick response of the South African Police Services (SAPS) which has resulted in the arrest of a number of individuals.
“With regard to the attacks on trucks, 20 individuals have been arrested in KwaZulu-Natal after responding to incidents along major routes and known hotspots in the province. These arrests relate to public violence and obstruction of traffic, possession of unlicensed firearms, attempted murder and malicious damage to property,” the statement said.
He added that the police would continue their work to restore order in the affected areas, while the government urged all the law-abiding citizens to continue to work with the police and isolate the criminals.
Details later…
