It appears matters have been getting out of hand in recent years, as it has now moved from mere insults to serious attacks.
Xenophobia (defined as a strong or morbid dislike of foreigners) is on the rise, making nonsense of the catchy phrase “Africa for the Africans“.
The reasons for these xenophobic attacks are mostly always the same. Most times, the locals feel their black brothers have come to take over their country, resources, jobs and other things.
But the thing is all over Africa, majority of the companies and businesses are mostly controlled by non-Africans, who are barely ever harassed.
Zimbabwe’s president, Robert Mugabe, was quoted as saying: “South Africans will kick down a statue of dead white man but won’t even attempt to slap a live one. Yet they can stone to death a black man simply because he’s a foreigner.”
The media has been awash with reports of xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The latest spate of violence in the country began about three weeks ago.
The saga apparently started with the speech by King Goodwill Zwelithini who last month said that foreigners must pack up and leave the country. Not long after that, reports about attacks by locals on immigrants broke out.
The violence spree, which was initiated by South Africa local group, Zulu, has left a number of black immigrants dead, severely injured and displaced.
Reactions have been trailing this recent xenophobic attack in South Africa. Some Nigerian celebrities have taken to social media to react to violence sweeping the country.
Yesterday, the House of Representatives had asked the Federal Government to immediately recall Nigeria's High Commissioner from South Africa, threatening that Nigeria will no longer tolerate the killing of its citizens.
Ambassador Aminu Wali, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the Federal Government would evacuate Nigerian residents in South Africa if the xenophobic attacks got worse.
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