Officials of the South African embassy in Nigeria were absent on Wednesday when members of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) stormed the mission at No. 24 Molade Okoya Thomas Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, to protest the xenophobic killings of other Africans in the country.
Though it was obvious that some of the embassy officials were within the premises, as vehicles with diplomatic numbers plates were seen going in and out of the embassy before the arrival of the protesters, however, the gate of the mission was kept under lock and key, while security men who were present refused to receive the letter from the protesters when they besieged the embassy.
The protesters, who were carrying various placards with anti-xenophobic inscriptions, eventually pasted the letter addressed to the South African President, Mr. Jacob Zuma, on the gate of the embassy as a last resort.
South Africa is facing its worst anti-immigrant attacks since 2008 as mainly foreign shop owners, including Nigerians, in townships are driven from their businesses.
Addressing the media, CDHR National President, Mr. Sunny Enennuwedia, who condemned the xenophobic attacks in the strongest terms, described Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini, who was believed to have instigated the attacks, “A mad Zulu king, who made the statement that foreigners are not allowing their citizens do business.”
Sending a strong warning to South African authorities to stop the attacks in order to prevent reprisals from other countries, Enennuwedia said the purpose of the protest at the embassy was to register the displeasure of Nigerians over the wave of xenophobia against other Africans in South Africa.
“The purpose of our protest here today is to complain bitterly about how South Africa is treating other Africans, particularly Nigerians. We are here because of the problem bedevilling the black race in South Africa.
