Xenophobia hub: South Africa apologises, sends envoys to affected countries
Written by Millennium on September 18, 2019
South Africa apologises
Nigeria’s president on Monday thanked his South African counterpart for sending a special envoy to apologise over the recent xenophobic attacks.
The special envoy, Jeff Radebe told president Muhammadu Buhari that the attacks on foreigners do not represent South Africa’s “value system, nor those of the larger number of South Africans”.
Radebe regretted the loss of life during the attacks in which 8 South Africans and 2 Zimbabweans were killed, adding that his country is committed to peace and integration of the continent.
Over the weekend, president Cyril Ramaphosa announced that he would send high-ranking emissaries to reassure different African countries following the xenophobic attacks, in which their nationals were targeted.
Radebe and Buhari, both highlighted the role that Nigeria played during the liberation struggle to end the apartheid system in South Africa.
Buhari is scheduled to visit South Africa next month, a visit that Radebe hopes will solidify the relationship between the two countries.
September 12: South Africa ‘blocking’ Nigerian returnees
The first batch of Nigerians fleeing xenophobic violence in South Africa returned home via the commercial city of Lagos.
But head of the country’s Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa says South Africa had blocked a number of them from leaving citing documentation issues. Reports have said around 600 Nigerians in total were scheduled to return home.
The contingent of about 200 people were flown in aboard privately-owned Nigerian airline, Air Peace. Asked about why only 200 nationals had returned, she responded on Twitter: “South Africa denied almost half of them from coming yesterday. They claimed documentation. But they will still return subsequently.”
