Xenophobic attacks: Senate threatens to act against South Africa

The Senate on Wednesday condemned in strong terms the recent spate of xenophobic attacks on African immigrants, particularly Nigerians, in South Africa.

The upper chamber, therefore, threatened that Nigeria will be forced to act otherwise if her patience is stretched beyond limit.

In a motion moved by Senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, Senate President David Mark described the act as barbaric, callous, heartless and called for perpetrators to be brought to book.

“What is happening in South Africa is totally unacceptable, it is unexpected and my humble suggestion will be that South Africa should not stretch us beyond our elastic limit on this matter. There is a limit beyond which the nation will not accept what is happening in South Africa and if we go beyond that limit then Nigeria will be forced to act otherwise.

“For them (South Africans) to repay us this way I think it is totally unacceptable and uncalled for; we need to stand up also for all other Africans in South Africa”, he said.

In its resolution, the Senate urged the Federal Government to recall the Nigerian High Commissioner in South Africa and take action against Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The red chamber also resolved to invite the minister of foreign affairs to brief the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on the measures being taken to safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians in South Africa.

Furthermore, it urged the Federal Government to pressurise the government of South Africa to bring the perpetrators of the act to book.

The recent wave of attacks was precipitated by comments credited to King Zwelithini who allegedly instigated the violence.

No fewer than 50 Nigerians have been rendered homeless and about 300 others displaced near Johannesburg.

No fewer than seven persons have been killed so far with massive looting and destruction of foreigners’ properties, forcing hundreds of migrants to relocate to police stations across the country. Specifically, properties of Nigerians worth over N21 million have been destroyed or looted so far.

In their separate contributions, senators condemned the act, just as they recalled the sacrifices of Nigerians in liberating South Africa from apartheid regime.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the South African government to adequately compensate Nigerians who were attacked during the xenophobic attacks.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, gave the hint while presenting the resolution of the House to the South African ambassador to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, in his office in Abuja.