Deadly parcel from South Africa

By Tayo Ogunbiyi 

Cyril Ramaphosa takes the oath of office at his inauguration as South African President, at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, on May 25, 2019. (Photo by SIPHIWE SIBEKO / POOL / AFP) 

IN the colonial era, it was normal to see Whites brutalising and oppressing Blacks as aptly epitomised by the atrocious trans-Atlantic slave trade and other similar obnoxious acts. Although colonialism has effectively ended in Africa, the chilling news from the Rainbow nation simply shows that the equation has changed. In South Africa, Whites no longer brutalise Blacks. Rather, it is Blacks that are maiming Blacks. How sad! Brothers are now killing brothers.

Iconic Reggae maestro, the late Bob Marley; legendary Afrobeat singer, the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, and many other departed Black singers who had variously sung about the unity of Africa would be turning in their graves. Why not? Africa has failed her illustrious sons. 

What is currently going on in South Africa is contrary to the traditional African spirit of brotherliness and hospitality. It is also contrary to the spirit behind the formation of the African Union, AU, which encourages freedom of movement and other related activities among African nations. 

According to the vision of the founding fathers of the AU, Africans should be able to seek legitimate livelihood anywhere in the continent. Unfortunately, that laudable vision is being dealt a deadly blow in South Africa. 

In what has now been termed as a xenophobic attack, reports have it that nationalists of other African nations have become targets of crude attacks by South Africans. Victims of xenophobic attacks in South Africa are from various African nations, including Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Somalia and Ethiopia. In the last three years, about 127 Nigerians have been reportedly killed. Intriguingly, what actually complicates the whole issue is the perceived complicity of the South African Police who were alleged to be responsible for 13 out of those killed. From January to June 2019, 10 Nigerians were reportedly killed, either by South Africans or by members of the South African Police Service. It is quite worrisome that most victims of xenophobic attacks do not usually receive swift help from the police. Could this seeming indifference be considered as official approval of the dastardly acts of some heartless and crude South Africans? Without sounding like a prophet of doom, if the issue is not quickly addressed by the concerned authorities, it could snowball into a serious crisis between the two countries. 

Many Nigerians are aggrieved at the uncivilised manner our compatriots are being treated in South Africa and they are already demonstrating their resentment through several means. 

Recently, the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, picketed branches of South African telecoms giant MTN, and those of supermarket chain, Shoprite, turning away staff and customers. Their intention was to draw the attention of the Federal Government and, indeed, the whole world to the barbaric happenings in South Africa. But then, in dealing with the sad subject, one doesn’t really approve of any action that doesn’t portray civility. In spite of obvious provocations, NANS and other such groups should toe the path of courteousness. 

Indeed, in the long run, we are not likely to profit from any crude action against South African business interests in the country. Attacking business concerns such as MTN, Shoprite, MultiChoice, and the many other South African companies in the country could have adverse effects on our already struggling economy as well as our staggering unemployment situation. While it is logical to disapprove of what is going on in South Africa, our compatriots need to exercise patience and have faith in the ability of governments of the two nations to diplomatically sort out the issue. 

According to reports, leaders of the two countries are scheduled to meet in October in South Africa and chief among what they are billed to discuss is “issues relating to the wellbeing of citizens of both countries”. According to experts on South African politics, the genesis of the attacks is traceable to the issue of migrants, mostly from other African states and Asia, who have moved to South Africa in huge numbers since White-minority rule was terminated in 1994. 

Many South Africans have accused these immigrants from taking the available jobs in a country where the unemployment rate is 24 per cent. Thus, the attacks in South Africa cannot be divorced from the worsening poverty and unemployment rate in the continent. In Africa, the reality of poverty is quite frightening as most Africans live on less than a dollar income per day. Perhaps more disturbing is that African countries account for a greater proportion of the Least Developed Countries, LDCs, in the world. This, perhaps, explains why poverty indicators such as extreme hunger, malnourishment, homelessness, diseases, high crime rate, slums, lack of opportunities, low productivity and illiteracy abound in larger quantity in the continent. 

The African poverty situation is further compounded by the failure of governments across the continent to properly harness human, natural and material resources for the common good of all. Though the poverty and unemployment situation in the continent should not be an excuse to justify the evil being perpetrated in South Africa, it is, nevertheless, a clarion call for African governments to tackle poverty in the continent. For instance, if there are enough opportunities for gainful employment and better life prospects in our country, most Nigerians that are being traumatized in South Africa and, indeed other nations across the world, would certainly have stayed at home to eke out a living. After all, it is often said that there is no place like home. 

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 national residents in South Africa and ensure that real compensations are paid to the families of all who lost their family members and relations as well as property. The whole of Africa rose up against the deadly apartheid regime in South Africa. Indeed, Nigeria was in the forefront of the struggle to liberate South Africa from the evil of apartheid. 

Ordinarily, this ought to place a huge moral burden on the South African government to protect all Africans, and especially Nigerians, living legitimately on its soil. 

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