Riot police in Pretoria formed lines to keep apart about 1,000 protesters as tensions rose between some South Africans and migrants from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Pakistan and elsewhere.
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If unchecked, these xenophobic attacks could soon engulf Pretoria and spread to other parts of South Africa, as they have in the past.
South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba, spoke tough against Nigeria’s call and said that such issues were better discussed at the diplomatic level.
Earlier reports indicated that Nigerians staged an anti-xenophobia protest outside the South African embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, calling on authorities to “stop attacks on African nationals”.
The lawmakers also urged the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to recall the country’s ambassador to South Africa ahead of a major anti-Nigerians rally planned for Friday.
The acting police commissioner, Khomotso Phahlane, said the protesters had a constitutional right to air their views, adding that the march was not only about immigrants but the involvement of some foreigners in crime. This should include ensuring proper police investigations of xenophobic crimes and holding those responsible to account. “Those who are inciting violence will also face criminal prosecution”.
At the media briefing, Phahlane was flooded with questions over the drug trade and prostitution, which sparked the violent protests by different South African community.
At least 20 stores in Pretoria owned by foreigners were reportedly looted on Tuesday, but the police claimed it could not confirm that the attacks had deliberately targeted foreigners. I appeal to the citizens of Gauteng and our fellow African counterparts to resist the temptation of promoting violence amongst themselves.
“They are arrogant and they don’t know how to talk to people”, the petition said, singling out Nigerians.
The incidents have prompted an angry response in Nigeria, where protesters in Abuja on Thursday marched to the offices of South African telecoms firm MTN and satellite cable service provider, DSTV. We hope that when they meet Nigerians, no matter how envious they may be, they become sensitive to this history.
“Residents in some communities blame non-nationals for the escalating crimes especially drug trafficking”, the presidency said in a statement.
Speaking after the launch of Operation Phakisa, which is aimed at boosting various sectors of the South African economy, he said the march included foreign nationals, was well organised and was not xenophobic.
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Despite the assurance by the South African government to clamp down on lawless acts by citizens, the attacks started nationwide in 2015 against immigrants.
