A renewed attack by taxi drivers who burnt down Nigerian businesses

Nigerian restaurant and food spices shop burned down by South African taxi drivers

BY UROWAYINO JEREMIAH

Spare parts shop, 2 restuarants, grocery store, others burned down

Facts have emerged revealing that today’s attack on Nigerian businesses  in South Africa, was perpetrated by South African taxi drivers under the guise of fighting crime.

The incident which took place  at Witbank Mpumalamga, is coming six days after a Nigerian was killed in the rainbow nation.

Confirming the attack to Vanguard, President of Nigerian Citizens in South Africa, NICASA, Mr. Ben Okoli, said no fewer than five Nigerian businesses were destroyed by the South Africans.

He said some Nigerians were injured during the attack targeted at foreigners, adding that it was not xenophobic.

Okoli, who later issued a detailed statement after visiting the scene alongside Nigeria Consul General, to South Africa , Godwin Adama, said the incident happened at 9AM today.

The statement reads: “Today, there was an attack on Nigerian own businesses in Witbank Mpumalamga.

This was not a xenophobia attack but criminality masterminded by the taxi drivers under the guise of fighting crime.

About five Nigerian owned businesses were attacked, vandalised and burnt.

The businesses included a big spare parts dealership, two restaurants, a grocery shop, and Nigerian food stuff shop.

“This attacked happened about 9am in the morning.

The NICASA leadership was informed and we intimated the CG immediately, who in turned contacted the relevant authorities and they swung into action to control the attack.

I drove with the CG in his car to the province where we engaged the Police and the Nigerian community in a meeting inside the Police conference room.

“Our meeting was very engaging and Frank. We went round the affected shops and businesses and we also visited those admitted in the hospital over some injuries sustained.

“At the meeting with the police we informed them that it is totally not acceptable to us as a nation where people were allowed to take the laws into their hands, unless the country has become a lawless country.

“We demanded for the protection of lives of our people in the province and elsewhere in the country.

As a organization we encouraged our people to be law abiding and note take laws into their hands.

“We also agreed to have a followup meeting to continue a discussion that will bring about an understanding with the local community and  Nigerians.

We appreciate the Consul General for his leadership and love to our community.

The Nigerians attacked were not into any illegal dealing but are into a legitimate businesses and were not in anyway conducting themselves in any a bad way. The attack was totally unprovoked and unwarranted.

The taxi drivers took the laws into their hands and acted in their prejudice on Nigerians.”

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South Africa: Foreign-owned businesses attacked in new wave of Xenophobia

BY BANKOLE
  

The Nigeria Union has advised Nigerians living in South Africa to avoid Pretoria Central Business District (CBD) until the Police Authority certifies the area safe for foreign nationals.

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 Lillian 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 the suspected stolen property, while an additional seven 7 have been arrested for public violence, the statement added.


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