Africa Online News

South Africa apologises to Nigeria

South Africa deployed a special envoy to Nigeria yesterday after waves of violence, arson and looting mostly targeted at the migrant business community swept through the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Special envoy from South Africa, Jeff Radebe was in Abuja to attend a meeting on Monday to convey the apologies on behalf of the South African government to the Nigerian government and his president Muhammadu Buhari.

In his message conveyed, he said: “The incident does not represent what we stand for and the South African police would leave no stone unturned, that those involved must be brought to book”.

In a statement after the meeting, Nigeria’s presidency said “President Buhari responded to profuse apologies from the South African president, pledging that relationship between the two countries will be solidified.”

There were no Nigerians killed according to South African authorities but the violence led to the death of ten persons, eight South African and two Zimbabweans. The recent spate of violence met with a wide condemnation from the rest of the continent.

Abiodun Abidoye

Nigerians Evacuation from South Africa

After several attacks on foreign-owned businesses and properties, 600 Nigerians signed up to be evacuated from South Africa courtesy of the humanitarian gesture extended to Nigerian citizens living in South Africa by Allen Onyema owner of Air Peace airlines. 320 Nigerians will leave on the first flight today and the airplane will return tomorrow to fetch the remainders.

Nigerians boarding a bus to the airport

Several Nigerian families were seen outside the Nigerian Consular boarding buses that will take them to Oliver Tambo Airport. The First Batch of families leaving had adequate documentation as several others are in possession of expired passports and travel documents which made it impossible for them to leave until their documents are regularized by the Nigerian Consular.

Violent attacks on businesses and properties belonging to foreign nationals rocked Pretoria and Johannesburg prompting the initiative by Air Peace in collaboration with the Nigerian government to evacuate its citizens. Several families seem to have taken this opportunity as they said that their life is more valued than living in fear in South Africa.

Air peace airline is expected to carry out more evacuations as the need arises.

Abiodun Abidoye

2 Dead and 20 arrested after fresh attacks in Johannesburg

A fresh wave of violent attacks erupted last night in the Johannesburg central business district prompting police to react which led to the arrest of four persons while two persons were confirmed dead. One died from stabbing injuries in the Hillbrow area and the other was shot dead in Malvern the JMPD chief David Tembe confirmed.

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Chaos started on Sunday after men from nearby hostels marched into the central business district armed with all sorts of weapons and chanting songs that depict foreigners should leave the city.

Several buildings and cars were set alight and business looted overnight which affected the suburbs of Jeppe, Malvern, and Hillbrow known to be heavily populated by foreign nationals. There were collateral damages as South African businesses too were not spared from the violent attacks and the police said ‘’ I think this is pure criminality because some of the shops that were burned did not belong to the foreigners, it belonged to South Africans.”

Scene this morning in the CBD of Johannesburg as shop owners plan reprisal attacks

The Johannesburg Metro Police Department chief said “At the moment, it is quiet but our advice to motorists is to avoid that area. We are trying to clean up the burned tyres. At the moment, we are able to control the situation ourselves with the SAPS. We believe that it is under control.”

Johannesburg power utility provider said it has withdrawn its response teams because of safety concerns.

Tell us what you think about this fresh wave of violent attacks in Johannesburg.

Abiodun Abidoye

Robert Mugabe dies in Singapore

Former president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe has passed away in a Singaporean hospital at age ninety five. He was hospitalised in the south east Asian country for four months before he passed early hours on Friday.

The president of Zimbabwe Emerson Mnangagwa announced on his twitter feed this morning the passing away of his former boss and liberation leader of the ZANU PF.

 Abiodun Abidoye 

publisher@africaonlinenews.blog

Zambians besiege South Africa’s diplomatic area in Lusaka

Hundreds of Zambians besiege the South African High Commission in Lusaka setting fire on the sign post after they couldn’t gain entrance into the building. Zambian police were seen on ground protecting the diplomatic area while angry youths display anti-xenophobic sentiments.

Zambian truck drivers plying the route from the seaport city of Durban in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province of South Africa have been under constant attacks from local truck drivers who burn, loot and often kill drivers carrying goods to the landlocked country. The locals claim that their jobs are being taken over by foreigners.

Violence erupted last night as South African businesses have been under attack predominantly by Zambian students who raided and looted retailers Shoprite and Pick n Pay.

Abiodun Abidoye