Led by the President of Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), Adetola Olubajo, they called on President Muhammadu Buhari, Inspector-General of Police and Service Chiefs to stand down the army and the police that were actually using excessive force so that there would not be more casualties.

The protesters marched to the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Arcadia, Pretoria, where the handed over a Memorandum to the high commissioner for onward transmission to the Presidency.

Part of the memorandum contained a 23-point list of what the youths want the government to do before they would call off the strike.

Speaking to our reporter on telephone from Praetoria, Olubajo said their protest, which had Nigerians from many provinces of that country, was peaceful and that another was organised in Cape Town where the High Commission is situated.

“The Nigerians in South Africa are standing in solidarity with the youth in Nigeria who have been protesting in the past two weeks.

“We have submitted a memorandum to the Presidency, the Senate and the House of Representatives, and we expressed our displeasure at the way the government is using the army to disperse peaceful protesters.

“It’s the right of every citizen to protest, and the protest has been peaceful until the army decided to open live fire on the protesters.

“We urge President Muhammadu Buhari and top security officers like the Inspector-General of Police and Service Chiefs to please stand down the army and the police that were actually using excessive force so that there would not be more casualties,’’ Olubajo told our reporter.

He said the government should listen to the youth and come out with a genuine roadmap and actions that would enable youths to trust them and believe that they are solving their problems.

“We are aware that government cannot solve all the problems just like that like a magician, but it needs to have genuine commitment that will enable the youth to trust the words of the government.

“And one of their demands is that the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) should be disbanded and we have watched with consternation and followed the unpleasant scenarios in our country.

“Something should be done in order not to aggravate the situation. Government should carefully listen to the youth and critically analyse the current demands as it is elsewhere around the world.’’

Olubajo said the youth had expressed their frustrations at misgovernance and the insensitivity of the government to many burning national issues such as the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and police brutality among others.

“Government should comprehensively look at these demands and address them as soon as possible.

“The Nigerian community in South Africa pledges its support and solidarity with Nigerian youths,’’ he said.

The post South Africa-based Nigerians protest, condemn killing of peaceful protesters appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

They made the disclosure in a statement by the President of the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), Mr Adetola Olubajo, on Monday in Lagos.

“Nigerians based in South Africa will gather on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 for a Peaceful Protest March to the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Arcadia, Pretoria.

“A memorandum will be submitted to the Nigerian High Commissioner, Amb. Kabir Bala.

“The Peaceful Protest March is in support and in solidarity with Nigerian youths back home in Nigeria with regards to the ongoing #EndSars, #EndSWAT, #EndPoliceBrutality Protest,’’ Olubajo said in the statement made available to our reporter.

He added: “We have been following the protest with keen interest to see what direction the Nigerian government will follow.

“But unsatisfied with the government’s response and pace in dealing with the issue, we deem it fit as Nigerians based in South Africa to join our voices to appeal to the Nigerian government to meet the demands of millions of Nigerian youths all over the world.

“We invite members of the media to cover the Peaceful Protest March.’’

The post Nigerians in South Africa to march in solidarity with youths on #EndSARS appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

“From Monday onwards, a night-time curfew will be enforced between 9 pm and 4 am, while face masks will be compulsory in public places and a ban on the sale of alcohol will be reintroduced.

“The national “state of disaster” is also to be extended until Aug. 12.

“We are now recording well over 12,000 cases every day,” Ramaphosa said in a televised Sunday evening address to the nation.

He noted that too many South Africans were now relaxing their behaviour after restrictions were eased.

South Africa has confirmed 276,242 coronavirus cases to date, the president said.

The government imposed a nationwide lockdown at the end of March to stem the spread of the virus and give the country time to build up its health infrastructure.

However, the measures were then gradually eased again in May and June, although the sale of tobacco products has remained banned ever since.

The restrictions have had a devastating effect on the country’s economy, with millions struggling to survive, and levels of poverty and food insecurity dramatically worsening in just a few weeks.

Even before the pandemic, Africa’s second-largest economy was already in a difficult situation.

With high unemployment rates and brutal social inequality, the country has been struggling for years with structural economic problems and an unreliable electricity supply.

The post S/Africa issues night-time curfew as coronavirus cases rise appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Nigeria’s Consul General in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, said this in a telephone interview with our reporter on Sunday in Abuja.

Adama noted that Air Peace had offered to airlift those willing to return home sequel to the attacks on Nigerians and their businesses by South Africans.

According to him, the first batch of Nigerians who are willing to return home will be repatriated on Wednesday.

“We have more than enough for that aircraft. Over 400 Nigerians have already registered; more are still coming,’’ he said.

The Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Kabiru Bala, also said that Nigerians had responded positively in good numbers.

Bala said that the mission was equally responding to the needs of those willing to return, especially those who had issues with their documents.

“We are documenting them. Those without travel documents, we shall provide them with Emergency Travel Certificates.

“There are other governmental procedures that we must observe. Relevant agencies of government in Nigeria must be informed and must be ready to receive the returnees.

“Hard work is now going on at the High Commission and Consulate in this regard. As soon as all procedures and relevant protocols are observed, the return is assured and guaranteed.

“A little more patience will be helpful. The response of Nigerians is just amazing,’’ Bala said.

President, Nigeria Citizens Association, South Africa (NICASA), Ben Okoli, said all efforts were geared towards evacuation of those who were ready to come back home.

Okoli said the figure of those ready to come was in hundreds as many had lost their means of livelihood and had nothing to fall back on.

“The Consulate is sorting out the issue of documents. Nigerians are being registered and issued with the necessary travel documents to enable them make the trip to Lagos.

“Some lost their passports in their homes and businesses from the fire that gutted it, while others had their documents and properties stolen by the locals,’’ he said.

The association, he said, was still pushing ahead with the demand for compensation as there was sufficient evidence available to them that the attacks were premeditated and orchestrated.

He also noted that normalcy was gradually returning, stressing that there was no longer tension, or violence against any set of people.

“The violence and hostility have ceased. Many Nigerians were, however, affected by the crisis and lots have been highly distressed with nothing to fall back on.

“So, some of those affected have decided to call it quits and go back to Nigeria.

“Presently, we are collating the data of Nigerians that are to be evacuated back to Nigeria.

“We have it on good record that the first batch will be leaving on Wednesday.’’

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort in sending a special envoy to South Africa.

Okoli said that the move was able to boost the morale of the Nigerian community to go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation or attacks.

“We have actually regained some strength knowing that our government is backing and supporting us, especially at this time.

“So we are no longer afraid because we believe that so long we are doing the right thing, the lawful thing, we have nothing to fear.

“We want to thank President Buhari for the steps he has taken. The special envoy did come to us and pushed the case of Nigerians. We are very grateful and thank him for what he has done so far,’’ he said

Okoli also commended the Management of Air Peace for offering to airlift Nigerians home and urged the airline to endeavour to airlift all Nigerians who were ready to return come home.

The post Xenophobia: Mission says over 400 Nigerians ready for evacuation from S.Africa appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Adeboye made the appeal in his sermon on Friday night at the September Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption Camp on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Adeboye stated that an average South-African is a decent person.

He likened the situation in South-Africa to the period of unrest in Nigerian universities in which only a handful of students usually engaged in trouble making.

According to the popular cleric, bringing Nigerians back home is not the solution to the problem.

He urged Nigerians to allow the government handle the issue.

“Let us leave this job to the government. Let them solve this problem at the governmental level.

“Pray for them that God will give them wisdom, understanding and ability to do it,” he said.

There was an overwhelming support for Adeboye’s appeal when he called for a voice vote on the matter.

The post Don’t retaliate against South-Africans, Adeboye appeals to Nigerians appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The president said this in a televised address in Johannesburg.

“Over the past few days, our country has been deeply traumatised and troubled by acts of violence and criminality directed against foreign nationals and our own citizens,” Ramaphosa said.

“People have lost their lives, families have been traumatised … We know that at least 10 people have been killed in the violence. Two of whom were foreign nationals.”

South African police arrested more than 80 people and confirmed five deaths as riots in Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria intensified on Tuesday, spreading to surrounding townships with roving groups attacking mainly foreign-owned shops.

The latest wave of unrest in South Africa has raised fears of a recurrence of violence aimed at foreigners in 2015 in which at least seven people were killed.

Before that, some 60 people were killed in a wave of unrest around the country in 2008.

Police have yet to pinpoint what triggered the violence, which began on Sunday when protesters armed with makeshift weapons roamed the streets of Pretoria’s business district pelting shops with rocks and petrol bombs and running off with goods.

High unemployment and widespread poverty have been cited as possible triggers for the recent disturbances and attacks on immigrants, but some officials say the riots might be the work of criminal syndicates.

“We can’t rule out pure criminality of criminals using a sensitive situation where there are real grievances on issues of unemployment and foreign nationals,” police minister Bheki Cele said.

Cele confirmed five people had been killed in the three days of rioting, but did not give further details on the circumstances or on arrests.

The Premier of Gauteng province, David Makhura, said during an inspection of the damage in Alexandra that there was a “xenophobic sentiment” underlying the attacks.

Ramaphosa condemned the violence, saying in a video posted on Twitter that “attacking businesses run by foreign nationals is totally unacceptable”.

Immigration to South Africa from across the continent and from parts of southeast Asia picked up in the early 1990s, spurred by the end of apartheid rule and the economic boom that followed.

On Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António  Guterres has “strongly condemned” the renewed wave of “acts of violence” against foreigners and their property in parts of South Africa.

“We strongly condemn the acts of violence that have been reported in different provinces in South Africa, including attacks against foreigners and the destruction of their property.

“He has also noted Ramaphosa’s call for strengthening accountability in line with democratic values enshrined in South Africa’s constitution.

“The Secretary General urges all political leaders to clearly and openly reject the use of violence,” he said.

But the UN Chief’s spokesman also avoided the xenophobia tag, choosing rather to describe the attacks as “acts of violence”.

The post South Africa’s Ramaphosa says at least 10 killed in riots appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, Spokesperson for the Ministry, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Nwonye said that Mr Allen Onyema, Proprietor of Air Peace Airline, volunteered to send an aircraft from Friday, Sept. 6, to evacuate Nigerians who wish to return free of charge.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the general public that following the recent xenophobic attack on foreign nationals, including Nigerians in South Africa, the Proprietor of Air Peace Airlines, has volunteered to send an aircraft to evacuate Nigerians.

“The general public is hereby advised to inform their relatives in South Africa to take advantage of this laudable gesture.

“Interested Nigerians are therefore advised to liaise with the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria and the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg for further necessary arrangement,” the statement stated.

It was reported that following the recent Xenophobic attack on Nigerians in South Africa on Sunday, several Nigerians have been left stranded and seeking refuge.

The intervention from Air Peace Airline is therefore a ray of hope for many Nigerians seeking to return home to safety.

The post Xenophobia: Air Peace to evacuate Nigerians from South Africa appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Onyeama made this known in Abuja on Tuesday when he invited South Africa’s Head of Mission, Bobby Moroe, to respond to the recent attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in the country.

Onyeama said that alongside proposal for implementation, the Nigerian Government had also urged its South African counterpart to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreed upon by both countries in 2018.

He said that the MOU contained frameworks and mechanisms that would bring an end to the unfortunate and recurring situation.

The minister said that the MoU highlighted the need for early warning system mechanisms, regular meetings between high level members of the South African Government and the Nigerian High Commission.

The MoU also seeks regular meetings with the Consular General and Nigerian Union of South Africa, informing each other of developments, anticipating events and essentially being prepared to pre-empt attacks.

“The Nigerian Government feels that very definitive measures have to be taken to stop once and for all these acts of aggression and criminality against Nigerians in South Africa.

“I invited the South African head of mission and we had very lengthy discussions and the South African government has issued a statement, arrests have been made.

“But for us the Nigerian Government, we are determined that we should not have any recurrence of this going forward, we must put in place mechanisms to ensure that this does not reoccur.

“We have made very concrete proposals to the South African Government today and we believe that if those measures are implemented, we have a very good chance of ensuring that this does not reoccur.

“We have to address the issue of compensation, there have to be accountability and there have to be responsibility for compensating all those Nigerians that have suffered loss and we are going to absolutely push.

“Secondly we believe that the two security forces, South Africa and Nigeria, can have an arrangement where there would be cooperation underground in South Africa to arrest such events and occurrences.

“This is something that we have to work out details with South African Government and hopefully the South African Government will support us in that initiative we believe will make all the difference,” Onyeama said.

Onyeama proposed that some officers of the Nigeria Police Force should be attached to the Nigerian mission in South Africa to engage with the South African Police on policing especially as it affects Nigerians in South Africa.

This he explained would be a game changer and would give confidence to the Nigerian community.

Responding, Moroe said that the South African Government greatly condemned the attacks which he described as acts by criminal elements to sabotage the cordial relationship between South Africa and Nigeria.

The envoy said that the attack was not xenophobic, explaining that the South Africa’s Police Minister announced that some South African businesses like Spar and Shoprite were also burnt.

“Our government condemns by all means any act of violence against any individual, the constitution of South Africa says that South Africa belongs to all those who live in it regardless of race, creed, gender.

“This new phenomenon that suggests that there are criminal elements within society that seek to create retrogression in the advancement that we have made between South Africa and Nigeria

“The South Africa Police authorities have already arrested 70 individuals in Johannesburg and Pretoria districts who have been found to be looting and destroying properties.

“We had a lengthy discussion with the minister, a number of propositions among which is the early warning mechanism, an agreement which has been proposed between the two countries and from now henceforth.

“We are going to be conveying the message of the Nigerian Government to our government to ensure that we find logical conclusions to this problem on ground,” Moroe said.

On the delay of the signing the MoU, Moroe explained that it was due to consultation processes with South Africa’s International Relations lawyers which he promised would be expedited.

Moroe also urged Nigerians and the media to be cautious and disregard viral videos and voice clips on social media showing Nigerians being brutalized and killed, explaining that most of them were from 2008.

The post FG tasks South Africa on implementation of proposals to end attacks appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The minister made this known on his twitter handle @ GeoffreyOnyeama, after videos of the burning and looting of Nigerian businesses emerged online.

Onyeama who pledged that ‘definitive measures’ would be taken to address the situation said there was need to end the attacks.

He however did not say what those definite measures would be.

Onyeama’s tweet reads “Received sickening and depressing news of continued burning and looting of Nigerian shops and premises in #SouthAfrica by mindless criminals with ineffective police protection.

“Enough is enough. We will take definitive measures”.

It was reported that the attacks on Nigerians are part of wider xenophobic attacks on foreigners in the rainbow nation.

South Africans had on Sunday begun fresh attacks, looting and burning of businesses and properties belonging to foreigners and in the process killed three people, while another is still receiving treatment for smoke inhalation.

The attack which was second of it within a week began on Sunday morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg when a building was set on fire by angry mobs.

Later on Sunday evening, some group of violent locals suspected to be Zulu hostel dwellers attacked Jules street in Malvern, Johannesburg, looting and burning shops.

Similar violence had occurred on Aug 28 in Pretoria Business District as indigenes angered by the death of a taxi operator apparently thought to be killed by a Nigerian went on rampage.

The said driver was, however, allegedly killed by a Tanzanian which sparked the violence that resorted to looting of shops owned by Nigerians and some other foreigners in that country.

It was reported that the government of South Africa had threatened a crackdown but has so far been unable to prevent acts of violence.

On Aug. 28, President Muhammadu Buhari and his South African Counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa met on the sidelines of a Summit in Japan and both leaders agreed to meet in October.

This latest development indicates xenophobia will be top of the agenda when both leaders meet.

The post Onyeama condemns renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in SA appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA) gave the advice in the wake of Xenophobic attacks early Wednesday morning in that country.

“Violent looting and burning of foreign-owned businesses started in the early hours of today, Aug. 28, at the Pretoria CBD. The foreign-owned shops and offices were targeted by angry taxi driver rioters, the President of NUSA, Adetola Olubajo said in a statement.

“The violent revolt and looting have been fuelled by the death of a taxi driver allegedly by Tanzania nationals on Tuesday at Pretoria CBD.

“Not less than two buildings were burnt by the angry mob. This was done after the stocks in the various shops were looted by the rioters.

“The situation was very volatile this morning but the joint efforts of South African Metro Police and South African Police Service members helped to curb the violent looting and attacks, although the situation is still tensed at the area as several roads were blocked for motorists.’’

He said as at the time he sent the statement, only two Nigerian-owned businesses were identified to be affected, — furniture/electronics shop on Sisulu Street and Gold Exchange Business on Lillan Ngoyi Street were looted and burnt.

“Information reaching us is that some foreign-owned businesses have been marked to be attacked over the night.

“The marked foreign-owned businesses include a Nigerian-owned Private Clinic, Nigerian-owned Motor spares shop and a Nigerian Church among others.

“The Nigeria High Commission in Pretoria has been informed of the planned overnight attacks and looting of foreign nationals businesses.

“We strongly advised Nigerians to avoid Pretoria CBD until the South African Police Authority has certified the area safe for foreign nationals,’’ Olubajo said.

Meanwhile, in a joint statement issued from the offices of Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure, Gauteng Provincial Commissioner and Taxi Industry in Tshwane, said it was engaging with the taxi industry following the fatal shooting of a taxi operator in the Pretoria CBD.

“Gauteng Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, together with the Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lt.-Gen. Elias Mawela on Wednesday engaged with the City of Tshwane as well as representatives of the taxi industry in Tshwane.

“This followed an incident on Tuesday afternoon where a taxi operator was fatally shot near the Bloed Long-Distance Taxi Rank in Pretoria.

“The taxi industry representatives tabled their concerns and raised what both the MEC and Provincial Commissioner believe are genuine concerns, which require urgent attention to ensure safety and security within the space in which they operate.

“The South African Police Service and the Tshwane Metro Police Department have since intensified deployments and will maintain a presence in the CBD to ensure that no further incidents of criminality recur,’’ the statement said.

In the meantime, 10 suspects have been arrested for possession of suspected stolen property, while an additional seven 7 have been arrested for public violence, the statement added.

According to the statement, the taxi industry representatives have distanced themselves from the incidents of looting that took place in the Pretoria CBD, and have reiterated on behalf of their operators that there was no aggression on their part.

“We had planned for a demonstration to highlight some of our issues with the shooting of one of us, and we believe some criminal elements took advantage and exploited our plan to advance their criminal intent,’’ it quoted Mr Mack Makata of SANTACO as saying.

It also said that Lt,-Gen. Elias Mawela made a commitment that police would look into the allegations and assured the taxi industry that feedback would be given in a short space of time.

“The taxi industry plays an integral part in the well-being of our communities, so, when they cry out for police attention, it is important that we respond positively and swiftly, in the best interests of the community,’’ said the Provincial Commissioner.

MEC Jacob Mamabolo extended his condolences to the family and colleagues of the taxi operator that was fatally shot, and urged the police to prioritise the investigation of the murder case so that the suspect could be found and taken to task.

The post South Africa: Foreign-owned businesses attacked in new wave of Xenophobia appeared first on NEWSVERGE.