Xenophobic protests escalate in S/Africa, locals target schoolchildren

Tensions have further escalated in South Africa following the renewed xenophobic protests led by the anti-immigration group, Operation Dudula, which is reportedly targeting African migrants, including schoolchildren, in a widening crackdown.

The situation intensified in Pretoria, where members of the group were seen in a video on social media storming a government facility, demanding the deportation of African foreigners from the country.

The protest marks a new phase in the group’s activities, which have increasingly drawn concern over their impact on vulnerable communities.

Eyewitness accounts and social media posts on X on Tuesday indicate that the unrest has extended into the education sector, with reports that members of the group attempted to forcibly remove African children of foreign nationals from classrooms and block them from accessing education.

A social media user, @Chude_ND1, described the development, stating: “Happening now in South Africa: Tension rises as members of the anti-immigration group in South Africa, Operation Dudula, storm the government house in Pretoria in protest, demanding the deportation of other African foreigners from South Africa.”

In a disturbing incident, a South African man was quoted as verbally attacking schoolchildren and their parents, saying: “Go back to your bloody country, you useless ones. You can’t fight your own government, so you come to South Africa. Bastards.”

Another post on X highlighted the growing impact on children, noting: “Classrooms in South Africa have become the latest battleground for the anti-immigration group Operation Dudula, with members reportedly attempting to forcibly remove and block children from other African nations from attending classes. Imagine the trauma this will leave on these kids.”

Similarly, @dejiadesogan stated: “Xenophobic Black South Africans are now attacking Black children of Black Africans – blocking them from going to school.”

Further heightening concerns, reports suggest that the protesters have issued additional demands affecting families, including calls for South African women married to Nigerian nationals to leave the country with their husbands and children.

“Tensions escalate in South Africa as the Xenophobes issue new demands, requiring all South African women married to Nigerians to leave with their husbands and children,” @jimnjue_ said.

The PUNCH on Monday reported that the renewed xenophobic violence in South Africa claimed the lives of two Nigerians, triggering fear and panic within the diaspora community and prompting urgent diplomatic engagement by the Federal Government.

The Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, confirmed that Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew were killed in separate incidents linked to rising anti-foreigner tensions.

In some of the videos shared on X on Monday, a Nigerian trader was confronted during an anti-immigrant protest and ordered to leave the country with his family.

The group yelled that foreigners were no longer welcome in their country.

“From now on, we don’t want foreigners in this town. We are fixing our South Africa now,” one voice declared.

“Take your wife and go back to your country. Take your children and go and raise them at home,” a second voice said.

The Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, reacting to the violence, warned of increasing hostility, harassment, and alleged police brutality against Nigerians and other African nationals.

NICASA President, Frank Onyekwelu, described the situation as alarming and called for urgent intervention by Nigerian and African leaders.

“We are alarmed by the increasing normalisation of hostility, manifested through inflammatory rhetoric by certain political actors, unlawful intimidation, and discriminatory enforcement practices by some law enforcement personnel.

“These actions not only undermine human dignity, but also threaten the long-standing bonds of African solidarity.

“On behalf of the Nigerian community, I appeal to President Tinubu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives to act with urgency, firmness, and strategic diplomacy in tackling these developments,” he said.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission also issued safety advisories, warning of escalating protests in parts of South Africa, including Durban, Cape Town, and KwaZulu-Natal, where incidents of looting, property damage, and violence have been reported.

NIDCOM advised Nigerians who own businesses to close down until the unrest subsides.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Acting Ambassador to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, in an interview on Channels TV, maintained that the situation was under control and not a coordinated siege against Nigerians.

“Let me first make the point that right now, Nigerians are not under siege in South Africa. The situation is currently under control. The governments are working on it.

“The two governments are working on it. Actually, the priority right now is to ensure the safety and well-being of every citizen, including foreigners,” he said.

On his part, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged foreign nationals to respect the country’s laws and traditions while reaffirming his commitment to international law and human rights.

“To those who are here legally, respect us as South Africans, respect our laws, respect our conventions and our traditions, as you would want us to respect the laws and traditions of your own country,” he said.(Punch)