The Nation Newspaper

Tag: South Africa

  • Scary news from South Africa

    The images were frightening and at the same time mind-boggling. If not for the credibility of the cable news platform where one was viewing the image, it would have been wished away for a make belief. But then, this is real and by no means a scene from any popular horror movie as fierce looking men with murderous instinct surrounded a hapless man. With the precision of a mad lion ready to tear its prey into pieces, these vicious looking men, clutching various objects, pounced upon the ill-fated man hitting him hard on every part of his body. Intermittently, the unlucky man tried to make an attempt to resist his attackers until he lost every strength in him. By now, he had resigned himself to fate as he lay down with blood gushing out of his body like water from a running tap. He was vulnerable and helpless.

    Welcome to the horror world of xenophobic inclined South Africans! In the colonial era, it was normal to see whites brutalizing and oppressing blacks as epitomized by the atrocious Trans Atlantic slave trade. Colonialism has since ended in Africa and Africans could walk freely in their continent. But then, the chilling news from the rainbow nation, the country of the Madiba himself, has made nonsense of this hypothesis of freedom for Africans in Africa.  In South Africa, the equation has changed. Brothers are now killing brothers. The hapless man in the scene described above was a Zimbabwean immigrant living in South Africa. The ferocious men who attacked and dealt mercilessly with him, to the point of death, are chauvinistic South Africans, who have been on rampage, pouncing on African immigrants living in their nation.

    What complicates the whole matter, giving it a rather dangerous dimension, is what could be termed as the complicity of some South African security personnel. In the ugly scene described above, it is amazing to observe that all the security personnel that were around simply chose to look the other side while the humiliation and dehumanization of the poor Zimbabwean immigrant lasted. It is quite curious that he received no help from the law enforcement officers whose primary duty was to protect him from the deadly grip of the savage and barbaric South African xenophobia monsters. Could the indifference of these South African security personnel be considered as official approval of the dastardly acts of the heartless and crude South Africans?

    Although the South African government has vowed to crack down on xenophobic violence, only a few would actually believe the sincerity of this declaration. Just a few days ago, South African President, Jacob Zuma, visited a refugee camp in the port city of Durban after a fresh outbreak of anti-foreigner violence. While at the camp, Mr. Zuma told those who had fled the violence that it went against South African values and that he would bring it to an end. But, rather than applaud Mr. Zuma for this statement, he was jeered by some in the crowd who accused him of acting too slowly, just like his country’s security personnel.

    Conservatively, more than 1,500 people have been displaced after violence against foreign nationals flared up in the country’s coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, whose capital is Durban. The attacks soon spread inland to the country’s financial hub, Johannesburg, in Gauteng province. From official reports, the death toll in the latest wave of attacks on foreign nationals in the country has risen to twelve. This, perhaps, explains why the crowd did not take Zuma’s assurance to bring the situation to an end seriously.

    Victims of xenophobic attacks in South Africa are from various African nations, including Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Somalia and Ethiopia. As it is usually the case with such predicaments, the victims are already counting their losses.

    Meanwhile, the AU should prevail on the South African government to take immediate measures to protect and safeguard the lives and properties of African migrants and, indeed, all nationals resident in South Africa and ensure that real compensations are paid to the families of all who lost their family members and relations and also for the loss of properties. The whole of Africa rose up against apartheid regime in South Africa. The South African government, therefore, has a moral responsibility to protect all Africans living on its soil.

    Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit Ministry of Information & Strategy, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

  • South Africa plans to unite continent with South Africa

    PARIS-based Alma Chamber Orchestra is collaborating with KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra (KZNPO), to stem the tide of xenophobic attacks in South Africa and raise funds for victims, using the power of music to unite the continent.

    Tagged World Tour for Unity, the concert, which takes place in Soweto today, will see the Alma Chamber Orchestra share a stage with internationally-renowned, Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble at the Regina Mundi Church.

    In what has been described as an unprecedented gesture of unity, the two orchestras will perform the African Union (AU) anthem. The two ensembles will then be joined by a 100-piece mass choir who will sing the lyrics to the anthem, making it a world first for the anthem to be performed by an orchestra and mass choir.

    This performance, the second of three in the concert series, takes place on Thursday, at Durban’s City Hall, which is home to one of South Africa’s leading orchestras, the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra (KZNPO). Presented by The Ichikowitz Family Foundation and The Alma Nostra Foundation in Paris, the concert will feature the collaboration between KZNPO and 49-piece Alma Chamber Orchestra, as well as performances by solo violinist Anne Gravoin, Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire and conductor Lionel Bringuier.

    The Ichikowitz Family Foundation have pledged to donate proceeds from the Durban concert in support of relief aid for victims of xenophobia. The concert will have works set to bring the message of a common humanity to all Africans.

  • Senate to South Africa: attacks unacceptable

    Senate to South Africa: attacks unacceptable

    WORRIED by the raging gang attacks on Africans in South Africa, the Senate yesterday warned the President Jacob Zuma government to refrain from over-stretching Nigeria beyond limits.

    It also urged the Federal Government to recall the Nigerian High Commissioner in Pretoria, Ambassador S.S. Yusuf for consultation without further delay.

    Besides, the upper legislative chamber urged the government to take a legal action against the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    The decisions were taken by the Senate after  debating a motion on “Rising incidence of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.”

    The 10-paragraph motion was sponsored by Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba and supported by 108 others, who spoke in anger.

    Among those who echoed Ndoma-Egba’s position are:  Ganiyu Solomon, Ita Enang, Abdul Ningi, Adamu Gimba, Andy Uba, Nkechi Nwaogu, ‘Gbenga Ashafa, Helen Esuene, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Kabiru Gaya.

    Senate President David Mark, who summarised the contributions of the Senators, described the attacks as unacceptable and uncalled for, warning that there is a limit beyond which Nigeria will no longer accept the excesses of the South African attackers.

    Mark said: “What is happening in South Africa is totally unacceptable; it is unexpected, and my humble suggestion will be that South Africa should not stretch us beyond our elastic limit on this matter.

    “There is a limit beyond which the nation will not accept what is happening in South Africa and if we go beyond that limit, then Nigeria will be forced to act otherwise.”

    He said contributors to the motion have clearly enumerated the support Nigeria gave to South Africa when it had crises.

    Nigerian students, he said, contributed. The Nigerian government accommodated so many South Africans and gave them scholarships.

    Said Mark: “For them to repay us this way, I think it is totally unacceptable and uncalled for; we need to stand up also for all other Africans in South Africa.

    “The African Parliament must take this up seriously; we cannot have a situation where one king gets up and begins to say that people should go away; that is preaching hatred and is unacceptable.

    “I agree with most of you that we have a responsibility to protect our citizens. In fact, that is our first responsibility and we must do that without thinking twice.”

    He described the photographs being circulated on xenophobic attacks as barbaric and recommended those involved for punishment.

    The Senate President urged South Africa to show Nigeria and the rest of Africa that its government has taken legal steps against the perpetrators.

    Mark suggested the transmission of the Senate resolutions on the attacks to the South African Parliament.

    In his lead debate, Ndoma-Egba said the Senate noted with anxiety the wave of attacks in parts of Johannesburg and Durban by locals on African immigrants.

    He said the attacks had led to the death of no fewer than seven persons, massive looting and destruction of foreigners’ property, forcing hundreds of migrants to relocate to police stations and other safer havens.

    Ndoma-Egba said that the Senate’s concern was on Nigerians living in South Africa, who have been seriously affected by the crisis.

    He said no fewer than 50 of them have been reportedly rendered homeless after being displaced by the attacks and some 300 others displaced near Johannesburg.

    The Senator added that as at the last count, multi-million naira property and businesses belonging to Nigerians  have been destroyed.

    He said that the Senate was worried that Nigerians living in South Africa who have always been targets of such attacks and other foreigners have maintained that immigrants could not really rely on the police for protection because the police maltreat and exhort money from them, rather than offer a helping hand.

    He recalled that prior to 1994, though immigrants faced discrimination and even violence in South Africa, much of that risk stemmed from the institutionalised racism of that era due to apartheid.

    The Senator noted that after democratisation in 1994, contrary to expectations, the incidence of xenophobia increased such that between 2000 and March 2008, at least 67 people died in what were identified as xenophobic attacks.

    Ndoma-Egba said that likewise, in May 2008, a series of riots triggered by xenophobia left 62 people dead, expressing concern that the wave of attacks was precipitated by the comments of a renowned Zulu King.

    “While these barbaric acts were going on, some members of the South African security forces who ought to quell the violence, protect victims and prevent the violence from escalating were photographed encouraging the perpetrators to continue in their dastardly acts.”

    Ndoma-Egba described as unfortunate that despite the sacrifices made by Nigeria to put an end to apartheid and ensure the emancipation of South Africa, South Africans have continued to maltreat and humiliate Nigerians without any just cause.

    The other resolutions passed by the Senate include:

    To condemn in strong terms the recent spate of xenophobic attacks on immigrants and particularly Nigerians in South Africa.

    To invite the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, to brief the Senate on the situation and measures being taken to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians in South Africa.

    To urge the Federal Government to pressurize the Government of South Africa to bring the perpetrators of this evil act to justice and ensure adequate protection of Nigerians and their investments in that country as well as compensate families who have lost members and those who have lost property as a result of these attacks.

    The Senate commended Nigerians for their restraint in the face of unwarranted provocation and attacks.

  • Xenophobia: NANS gives S/African govt ultimatum

    Xenophobia: NANS gives S/African govt ultimatum

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given the South African Government 72 hours to stop xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans resident in the country.

    NANS President Tijani Usman conveyed the ultimatum during a protest march by the association against such attacks on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that NANS had on April 18, issued a seven-days ultimatum to the South African Government to end the attacks.

    The students who had placards with the inscriptions “Say no to Xenophobia’’; “Xenophobia is Evil’’; “South Africa, Enough is Enough’’, marched to the MTN office and the South African High Commission both in Maitama.

    “The purpose of this protest is to register our grievances and solidarise with our people in South Africa because of the xenophobic attacks; Africa is our own and we should not be racists in our own continent.

    “We condemn such acts and we call on President Jacob Zuma of South Africa to address this issue with immediate effect, otherwise South Africans in Nigeria will not find things easy here;  we will make sure they are deported back and we will shut all their businesses.

    “This is a signal; we are giving them 72 hours to stop all attacks; if they fail, they will face the wrath of Nigerian students.’’

    Usman appealed to the United Nations to call the South African Government to order, adding that it seemed not to have taken any serious action to address the problem.

    Also speaking, Mr Nwankwo Ezekiel, the NANS Public Relations Officer, told NAN that the protest was to drive home the earlier ultimatum given to the South African Government.

    “In our statement earlier, we gave seven days but today, we want to register our grievances so that in the next three days, we will shut down all South African investments in Nigeria, if the attacks are not stopped,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that it took the timely intervention of a team of policemen led by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, to quell the brewing tension at the MTN office as some students were becoming unruly.

    Inalegwu told NAN that that the students had the right to protest but were expected to conduct  themselves properly.

    He said he had to come down to the MTN office personally when we received a report that the students were trying to conduct themselves otherwise.

    “I had to come here personally and I thank God that their president was able to lead the students out of the premises peacefully.

    “We have deployments in other South African establishments and I have spoken with their president and I expect him to conduct himself properly,’’ the commissioner said.

    The students also took their protest to the South African High Commission.

  • Nigeria counts its losses in South Africa attacks

    Nigeria counts its losses in South Africa attacks

    NIGERIANS living in South Africa are counting their losses to the on-going xenophobic attacks in the former apartheid enclave.

    The losses, according to Nigerian Consul-General in South Africa, Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke, include: looted shops, razed ware points, two torched mechanic workshops, 11 burnt cars and two stolen cars.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ambassador Ajulu-Okeke yesterday put the value of the losses in the neighbourhood of 1.2 million Rand (about N21 million).

    She told NAN by phone from Johannesburg, the South African capital, Nigeria was keeping records of the attacks on its citizens.

    “Nigerians have compiled damage to their property and it is totalling about 1.2 million Rand or N21 million, which will be sent to the Federal Government for further action,’’ she was quoted as saying.

    The President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Mr. Ikechukwu Anyene, confirmed that efforts were being made by the association in collaboration with the Nigerian Mission to resettle those affected.

    He said Nigerians living in Jeppes, a town near Johannesburg, were mostly affected by the attacks.

    Ikechukwu said: “We met about 300 Nigerians in Jeppes town, near Johannesburg, who fled for their safety and about 50 of them do not have any place to stay.

    “We are making arrangements with the Nigerian mission in South Africa to get them a place to stay for their safety.

    “The Nigerian union has also presented relief materials to those affected by the attacks and we are in touch with various branch chapters of the union in the provinces on their safety and security.”

     The envoy said that in Durban, two of the three Nigerians who were wounded during the attacks had been treated and discharged from the hospital.

    The consul-general promised to return to Durban to assess the situation and meet with the provincial authority on security of Nigerians in that Province.

    Her words: “The Nigerian mission in South Africa is on top of the situation. We are working hard to protect Nigerians in South Africa.

    “Though, the task has not been easy, we are trying our best. In one of the hot spots at Jeppe, near Johannesburg, the mission assisted about 50 stranded Nigerians to re-settle.

    “I have also visited the site of the attacks in Johannesburg to assess the damage and it was enormous.”

    She assured that the Nigerian mission would meet with all Nigerian Union chapters in the nine provinces of South Africa to find strategies on how to check the attacks.

    “I am bringing all Nigerians together so that we work out a vigilance and alert mechanism; they will also tell me what their challenges and issues are,” she said.

    Mrs. Ajulu-Okeke said the mission and the Nigerian Union had been working cordially to meet the challenges caused by the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.

  • Buhari backs FG’s plans to protect Nigerians in South Africa

    Buhari backs FG’s plans to protect Nigerians in South Africa

    President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari has endorsed steps taken so far by the Nigerian government to protect the country’s citizens from the wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

    In a statement released in Abuja on Saturday, General Buhari said that Nigeria’s Head of Mission in Pretoria had taken the right steps by advising the Nigerian community in South Africa to close their shops, stay home and keep out of trouble, while ensuring that they obey the laws of their host country.

    “We equally understand that the South African government is making efforts to bring an end to this unfortunate situation,” General Buhari said. “In the meantime, Nigerians in South Africa should abide by the words of caution extended them by their government representative in Pretoria.”

    General Buhari also commended the Nigerian government for its decision to monitor the situation in South Africa and evacuate its citizens at any sign of escalation.

    “I am happy to see that the Nigerian government is very well aware of its responsibilities to its citizens in South Africa,” General Buhari said.
    The President-elect noted that the unfolding events in South Africa is sad considering Nigeria’s and South Africa’s friendly relation since the end of apartheid.

  • Xenophobic attack: Reps urges Jonathan to recall envoy

    Xenophobic attack: Reps urges Jonathan to recall envoy

    In response to the continuous xenophobic attacks on Africans in South Africa, President Goodluck Jonathan Has been advised by the House to, as a matter of urgency, recall Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the country pending when the attacks will stop.

    The lawmakers warned that Nigeria will no longer tolerate killings of its citizens.

    The resolution followed the adoption of the prayers (as amended) of a motion of urgent matter of public importance by the Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Matters, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

    It is sad that the recent attacks that has left many dead, businesses and shops vandalised, many beaten up, was incited by a statement by the South African Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini.

    The King was alleged to have ordered African migrants to return their country as they are no longer welcome in South Africa.

    In their resolution, the lawmakers also appealed to the federal government to apply the diplomatic principle of reciprocity in dealing with South Africa.

    The lawmakers added that if South Africa continues to frustrate Nigeria businesses, Nigeria must also do the same to South Africa businesses in the country.

    In addition, the lawmakers stated Nigeria frowns at the attacks and will no longer tolerate the killing of its nationals in South Africa.

    President Goodluck Jonathan must immediately convey this to President Zuma as a matter of urgency.

  • Xenophobia: Rep calls for evacuation of Nigerians from S/Africa

    Xenophobia: Rep calls for evacuation of Nigerians from S/Africa

    Rep. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, has called for the evacuation of Nigerians within 24 hours from South Africa owing to ongoing attacks on non-indigenes.

    Ukeje (PDP-Abia) made the appeal in a phone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ibadan.

    She said that the call was necessary because of increasing attacks on Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike in South Africa.

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria should rise up to the occasion by having contingency plans to evacuate Nigerians within 24 hours to avoid us losing our citizens to these attacks.

    “It is expedient to think of where all Nigerians can gather within 24 hours for safety either in our embassy or mission for the safety of our citizens,’’ she said.

    The lawmaker suggested that a concrete arrangement with some airlines should be made to evacuate Nigerians back home.

    She also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to equally mobilise to take care of the returnees.

    Ukeje noted with concern that that the xenophobia was degenerating to Afrophobia as many black Africans, including Nigerians, were being attacked from Johannesburg to Durban.

    She advised the Nigerian government against delay till some of her citizens are killed in the latest attacks before implementing its citizen diplomacy policy.

    “Unfortunately, there is no serious condemnation from South Africa government on this attacks, hence the need for Nigerian government to be proactive and rescue her citizens as soon as possible,’’ she said.

    She expressed surprise that South Africa that housed African Parliament and other institutions of Africa in the continent could descend so low to the extent of her nationals attacking other Africans living in that country.

    Ukeje said her committee was in close contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to see what could be done to protect Nigerians in South Africa, while the House is to engage relevant stakeholders on the matter.

    Rep. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, also told NAN on phone that a motion on the issue would be tabled during the plenary session of the House.

    Dabiri-Erewa (APC-Lagos) condemned the attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa, saying it was disgusting for South Africans to be treating Nigerians like that despite the Nigeria’s role during the apartheid struggle.

    NAN reports that Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, Minister of State II, for Foreign Affairs, has said that no Nigerian was killed in the attack against foreigners in South Africa.

    “We are following the developments in South Africa and efforts are being made to protect Nigerian citizens in South Africa,’’ Obanikoro assured.

  • Scatec wins renewable-energy contract in South Africa

    Scatec Solar ASA, a Norwegian developer of renewable-energy facilities, is among preferred bidders for three solar-power projects in the fourth of five programme rounds to increase electricity from clean sources in South Africa.

    The country’s Department of Energy awarded Scatec preferred-bidder status for projects in the Northern Cape province with a combined capacity of 258 megawatts, the Oslo-based company said in a statement

    South Africa is expanding capacity as the state utility, which generates about 95 percent of the country’s power mostly using coal, has been forced to implement managed blackouts due to breakdowns at its aging fleet of plants and failure to invest in new facilities on time.

    The country procured about 3,900 megawatts of capacity through the first three competitive rounds of bids by clean-energy producers, with about $10 billion invested so far, the Department of Energy said in December. That already exceeded the 3,725 megawatts initially sought from five bid windows.

    The department had planned to name the preferred providers in the program’s fourth round on Dec. 15. Maduna Ngobeni, a spokesman for the department, didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

    Scatec has arranged financing for the projects that will be built near Upington, about 870 kilometers (540 miles) northeast of Cape Town, it said. Construction will start in early 2017, according to the company.

    It will own 42 percent of the plants while the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries, or Norfund, will hold 18 percent and a trust for local South African communities will control the rest, it said.

  • South Africa banks lobbied for preference shares

    A South African money manager is leading a drive to form blocks of investors holding preference shares in the country’s biggest banks to persuade the lenders to redeem the securities at the highest-possible prices.

    About 22 billion rand ($1.8 billion) of the shares were issued a decade ago by banks including Standard Bank Group Ltd., Africa’s largest lender by assets, and FirstRand Ltd. mostly to expand share ownership in the country. Grouping the shareholders into voting pools will strengthen their bargaining power, said Greg Saffy, head of Johannesburg-based Cast Iron Capital, which has partnered with Exchange Sponsors Ltd. in the program.

    A change in capital rules is prompting the banks to review the status of the preference shares, which typically have priority in the payment of dividends. The stocks, issued by the banks between 2004 and 2006, are known as non-cumulative, non-redeemable perpetual preference shares. Under Basel III regulations, they are no longer defined as core Tier-1 capital. As lenders try to boost their capital levels to meet the new benchmarks, they can buy back and cancel the shares or swap them for new instruments.

    “Banks may have to do buybacks or replacements, but we’re going to lobby the banks for those shares,” Saffy said in an interview. By setting up the voting pool, Cast Iron Capital and Exchange Sponsors, an investment adviser, will form a market place where the shares can be traded, with the two firms earning performance fees for transactions, he said.

    Framework Needed

    While FirstRand is waiting for the central bank to publish a final framework before discussing its stance on the preference shares, according to spokeswoman Sam Moss. Nedbank Group Ltd. “will in principle offer a fair alternative,” said Mike Davis, the lender’s executive for balance-sheet management.

    “At this stage in our capital planning we are considering various options as part of our current and ongoing capital plans,” Davis said. Options include a buyback, or swapping into either a new pre or post-tax instrument.

    Investec Ltd. and Standard Bank weren’t immediately able to comment on the shares. Barclays Africa Group Ltd. declined to comment.

    The South African Reserve Bank has been issuing capital framework guidelines for the lenders so as to ensure their compliance with Basel III rules.

    Investors are able to start organizing themselves into the voting groups Monday, by visiting a website that Saffy and Exchange Sponsors have set up, or by calling the firms.

    Six preference-share instruments from lenders including Investec, Nedbank and Barclays Africa are being targeted. Pooling the investors will enable them to negotiate with the banks for a cash payout at “an acceptable level,” Saffy said on the website.

    “We’ve canvassed some of the institutional investors and there is keen interest and support for our initiative,” Saffy said. “We are in the process of collecting the votes from all holders and custodians of the instruments.”