Economic challenges in S’Africa cannot justify xenophobic attacks – Nigerian community leader

A Nigerian community leader, Frank Onyekwelu, has said that the grievances of South Africans against Nigerians and other foreign nationals in their country do not justify the xenophobic attacks they exhibited.

Onyekwelu, the president of the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa, said this, while condemning the anti-foreign nationals protest embarked upon by South Africans in Gauteng Province.

The protest which started on Tuesday and ended Friday, was used by many South Africans to assault, harass Nigerians and other African foreigners, and loot their shops.

Speaking on the incident Thursday, the NICASA leader said South Africans were aggrieved concerning multi-faceted socio-economic challenges bedevilling their country.

He, however, said Nigerians and other Africans in the country were not responsible for their challenges, calling on the South African authorities to address the problems.

“Our position is very clear: no grievance, regardless of how serious it may be, should ever justify xenophobia, mob justice, or the targeting of innocent people based on nationality,” Onyekwelu said.

The community leader said Nigerians respect the constitutional right of South Africans to peaceful protest and freedom of expression, but using it for violence, intimidation, hate speech, harassment, destruction of property, or attacks directed at foreign nationals, is condemnable.

He said, “Many Nigerians in South Africa are legal residents, business owners, professionals, students, and contributors to the economy and society. They deserve protection under the law like every other resident of the country.

“We are, therefore, calling for calm, restraint, and responsible leadership from all stakeholders; including political leaders, community organisations, and law enforcement agencies; to prevent escalation and maintain social cohesion.

“South Africa, like many countries globally, faces genuine challenges relating to unemployment, crime, border control, and pressure on public resources.

“However, it is dangerous and unfair to reduce these complex socio-economic issues to anti-foreigner sentiments or to create the impression that foreign nationals are the primary cause of the country’s problems.”

He called on law enforcement agencies to act professionally against criminality regardless of nationality, among other things, as solutions to prevent xenophobia.

“Criminality must never be ethnicised or nationalised. We encourage Nigerians and other foreign nationals to remain calm, avoid confrontation, limit unnecessary movement in high-risk areas, and immediately report any threats or incidents to law enforcement agencies and community structures.

“Most importantly, we continue to advocate peaceful coexistence, African unity, mutual respect, and adherence to the rule of law,” he added.

Meanwhile, in another press statement, Onyekwelu congratulated Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu for her appointment as the substantive Minister of Foreign Affairs.

He urged the minister to use her office in addressing the current challenges facing Nigerian nationals in South Africa.