The Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project on Thursday
dragged South Africa before the
International Criminal Court over
xenophobic attack on
Nigerians and
other foreigners living in the former
apartheid enclave.
The Executive Director of SERAP, Mr.
Adetokunbo Mumuni, said the body had
sent a petition dated April 23, which he
addressed to the ICC Prosecutor, Mrs.
Fatou Bensouda, the News Agency of
Nigeria reports.
The Federal Government had on
Wednesday invited the South African
High Commissioner in Nigeria, Lulu Louis
–Mnguni, over the xenophobia attacks
on Nigerians and other blacks residing in
the country.
The attacks, which started last week,
followed the hate-speech by the Zulu
King, Goodwill Zwelithini, that non-
indigenes should vacate the country.
Zwelithini accused the non-indigenes of
taking up employment opportunities
meant for South African nationals.
SERAP said Bensounda should
investigate the allegations of hate-
speech by Zwelithini, which it said had
resulted in the xenophobic attacks.
It requested Bensouda to probe the
complicity and negligence of the
country’s law enforcement agencies to
prevent crimes against other countries’
civilian population residing in South
Africa.
The group also urged the ICC prosecutor
to bring to justice anyone found to be
responsible for international crimes
prohibited under the Rome Statute of the
ICC.
SERAP said that it considered the use of
speech by the Zulu King to promote
hatred or incite violence against non-
nationals such as Nigerians, particularly
in the media, as a clear violation of the
provisions of the statute.
It stated, “Grave statements by political
leaders and prominent people that
express discrimination and cause
violence against non-nationals cannot
be justified under any law.
“This hate-speech generated fear and
hatred that created the conditions for
violence and discrimination against
Nigerians and other African citizens.
“SERAP believes that this has given rise
to individual criminal responsibility under
the Rome Statute of the International
Criminal Court.”
It argued that the statement by the Zulu
King amounted to a harmful form of
expression, which incited or otherwise
promoted hatred, discrimination, violence
and intolerance.
“We are seriously concerned that crimes
against humanity are often accompanied
or preceded by the kind of statement
made by the Zulu King, SERAP said.”
