MagRush writer | September 5, 2019
South African (SA) businesses and other interests are under threat across Africa owing to the widespread violent attacks in SA directed at foreign nationals and their businesses.
Major SA companies have closed operations in some countries such as Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, etcetera. South African music is “banned in Zambia, as MTN stores looted abroad,” reported Tom Head, of The South African.
The international relations crisis SA faces at the moment was ignited by taxi drivers mobilizing to clean out drug trafficking in Pretoria which they believed was out of control. Unfortunately, one of their members died after a confrontation with a suspected drug peddler two weeks ago. That led to the eruption of anarchy holding everybody hostage at the moment.
Hooliganism took advantage of what taxi associations called a “noble course”; however, they distanced themselves from ruinous looting. At least five deaths linked to the terror-like destruction have been confirmed by the police.
Using his Twitter account, Aliko Dango the, the Nigeria baroness has this to says about xenophobic in South Africa:
“Our aspirations for a shared and sustainable prosperity can only be achieved when we live in peace and unity, shunning hate and any form of violent attack on African brotherhood. It is time for Africans to put Africa at the center of its own development, by harnessing our entrepreneurial and intellectual skills. Let us collectively shun hate and reprisal attacks.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed profound concerns and discouraged the ongoing “xenophobic” attacks against any foreign national in the country.
SA’s continental ties with African states is taking a swipe at this critical juncture where the economy is crying out loud for potential investments. Among the companies that closed operations in Nigeria and Zambia at the back of the onslaught of foreigner nationals in SA are (multinationals like) MultiChoice, Shoprite and MTN.
Latifat Opoola writing for the Daily Trust on Tuesday quoted the Minister of Information and Culture in Nigeria, Alhaji Lai Mohammed: “[D]escribed as deeply disturbing the reports that some Nigerians, angered by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, have started attacking South African companies in Nigeria.”
President Muhammadu Buhari, cited Opoola, “has dispatched a Special Envoy to convey to his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa, his concerns and also interact with his South African counterpart on the situation.”
According to Apoola South African High Commissioner to Nigeria has been “summoned” by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, under President Buhari command, to cogently apprise Nigeria about the attacks in SA.
On the ground, citizens across the continental spectrum are agitated to retaliate in more or less the same way without considering the repercussions, be it short- or long-term. Nevertheless, heads of governments in Africa are sensible and amenable to find common solutions willingly to ameliorate the spate of diabolic hooliganism and seek solace through diplomatic engagements.