No fewer than 50 Nigerians have
been affected by the xenophobic
violence in South Africa, the
President
of the Nigerian Union in
that country said yesterday.
Mr . Ikechukwu Anyene said efforts
were being made by the
association to resettle those
affected.
He told the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN ) by phone from
Pretoria , South Africa, that the
Nigerians were displaced at
Jeppes Town , near Johannesburg.
“ We met about 300 Nigerians in
Jeppes town , near Johannesburg ,
who fled for their safety and about
50 of them do not have any place
to stay, ” he said.
“ We are making arrangements with
the Nigerian mission in South
Africa to get them a place to stay
for their safety.
“ The Nigerian union has also
presented relief materials to those
affected by the attacks and we are
in touch with various branch
chapters of the union in the
provinces on their safety and
security , ’’ he said.
According to him, Nigerian shops
and businesses in Durban and
Johannesburg have been looted
and some burnt.
He said that two shops belonging
to Nigerians in Durban were looted
and goods worth 400 , 000 Rand
lost .
“ In Jeppes Town , near
Johannesburg , five shops were
looted and one burnt while the
estimated loss is put at One
million Rand .
“ The incidents have been reported
to the police and we are still taking
stock of attacks on Nigerians , ’’ he
said .
Mr . Anyene reiterated the union’s
call to the Federal Government to
put more pressure on the South
African government to halt the
attacks .
The Nigerian foreign minister had
however claimed on Thursday that
Nigerians had so far not been
attacked , saying it would only
evacuate Nigerians only if the
situation gets worse .
“ With the discussions I have been
having with Nigeria’s Head of
Mission in Pretoria, no Nigerian
has so far been affected, ” the
Minister of Foreign Affairs , Aminu
Wali said Thursday in Abuja.
“ They informed me that they have
called the Nigerian community and
addressed them and told them to
close their shops, stay home and
keep out of trouble and obey the
laws of South Africa.
“ They have also confirmed that
the South African authority has
moved in to take actions that
would forestall any further
disturbance in South Africa, ” Mr.
Wali said.
“ If it gets worse it is the duty of
our country to make sure our
people are brought back, and we
are taking that duty serious .
“ We are not prepared to allow any
of our nationals to be subjected to
such inhuman treatment .
“ We are monitoring the situation
and will now take action according
to the situation that develops, ” he
said .
