By Sunday Adaji Esq
“Xenophobia” has become the trademark of the South Africans. Over the years, these Africans have continued to revel in killing foreigners, especially Nigerians living in their country. It is obvious that Nigerians have become endangered species in South African.
It has now been established that South Africans derive pleasure in killing Nigerians living in their country. For reasons that are not clear, they keep doing so with reckless abandon. It was reported that nearly 200 Nigerians have been killed so far within the spate of three years. The situation is worse and may continue to get worse for a long time to come if nothing is done to stop the savagery and barbaric acts.
Recently, what looks like the reason for the xenophobic attack in South Arica was expressed by the country’s Deputy Minister of Police, Mr. Bongani Michael Mkongi who appears in support of the killing of foreigners by his country people. In what looked like a press conference, the deputy minister of police with others, addressed members of the public where he said that 80% of foreigners had taken over their cities, taking away everything that belongs to South Africans. While expressing his annoyance and frustration to justify his support for the dare-devil South Africans; he queried: “Which city in the world will you find 80% of South Africans dominating? You can’t find South Africans in other countries dominating a city up to 80%… We cannot surrender South Africa to foreign nationals.” The video that captured Mr. Bongani Michael Mkongi making the statement is online to aid any verification.
The statement of Mr. Bongani Michael Mkongi is a reflection of the opinions and fears of those South Africans that are killing foreigners in their country. We now begin to realise why South Africa Police which are conferred with the statutory duty to maintain law and order and to protect lives and properties have abandoned their duties to participate in the killings of Nigerians living in South Africa.
It is really pathetic that South Africans take up arms to kill, in cold blood, law abiding Nigerians who lawfully go about their legitimate business in South Africa. It is much more pathetic that this happen under the watchful eyes of South Africa policemen. It is equally sad that South Africa’s government is not doing enough to put an end to this killing of foreigners.
Things usually take a downward slope when you don’t take drastic steps to deal with them. Over the years, Nigerian government has not done enough to address the issue and as a result, this evil keeps rearing its ugly head. At the moment, the government of Nigeria has started taking some concrete steps to address the issue. It is reported that President Muhammadu Buhari has sent his entourage to meet with Cyril Ramaphosa, South African president, to see how they can address the issue and put an end to the killing of Nigerians in South Africa. Nigerian government has also made an arrangement to evacuate Nigerians living in South Africa who are willing to return to Nigeria.
Looking at things, the effort of Nigerian government is not likely going to yield the desired result. At best, it may only bring about some palliatives. The fact is, xenophobia has become the trademark of many South Africans. And to lift the trademark off their necks, it will take the intervention of the whole world. There is need to mount pressures on South Africa from all quarters to stop this act. You don’t take it likely with a group of people that have no respect for the sanctity of human lives.
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