Anti-foreigner protests in South Africa: Anti-immigrant protests erupt after two Nigerians died in recent xenophobic attacks

Olaniyi Abodedele, president of the Nigerian Union of South Africa, told BBC News Pidgin that his death would come the same week as Bin de Zinger's death during anti-foreigner protests.

They identified the deceased Pipo as Kelvin Chidibere Amaramuiro and Ekpenyong Andrew.

Explaining the circumstances surrounding Dia's death, Oga Abodedel says Andrew died on Sunday, 19 April, in Pretoria West. I say that the officers arrested me, and did not tell me what crime I would commit. He claims that they beat me to death and dumped the body in the hospital.

As for the second victim, Abodedel says that according to reports, the police and the army attacked the house of Kelvin Amaramuiro on Monday, April 20. He asked me to provide evidence of what they were doing.

“He is fine and is headed to jail, and will be granted bail on Wednesday, April 22. He went to the hospital for treatment and returned home feeling better. On Thursday, he went to the hospital again, only to be told he had internal bleeding. Unfortunately, he died on Friday, April 24.”

De Conti Neva's security operators respond to these allegations.

The leader of Nigerian citizens in South Africa says they are currently living in fear because of the way South Africans harass black foreigners, and especially in an anti-immigrant protest as he plans to hold protests in Pretoria on Tuesday and Johannesburg on Wednesday.

On Monday, 27 April, during National Independence Day celebrations, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that I understand there is corruption in the immigration system and the administration will root out corruption.

He has also said that he will not allow Pipo to take the law into his own hands, as he condemns recent xenophobic attacks he sees some South Africans attack on black Africans and destroy businesses dedicated to the country.

Oga Ramaphosa said that the government is cracking down on illegal migration and businesses that are violating India's laws by hiring undocumented persons at the expense of Indian citizens.

The UN Secretary-General also condemned reports of xenophobic attacks and acts of harassment and intimidation against migrants in parts of South Africa, including KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape province.

“Violence, vigilantism and all forms of incitement to hatred have no place in an inclusive, democratic society, where there is the rule of law and respect for human rights,” the statement said.

However, due to calls for anti-foreigner protests in South Africa, Ghanaian authorities have not issued advisories to their citizens.

The Ghana High Commission office in South Africa said on Tuesday morning that citizens were being asked to remain safe while the protests were still ongoing.

High Commissioner Oga Benjamin Kweshi told that on Tuesday 28 April there will be a protest against foreigners in Pretoria, they will go to see Pipo march through the streets from the President, Wahala to Dia Sarkar, he said:

Dr. Yirenky Gyeke Darko, chair of the Ghana Community for Mthatha and ODA Environment, told the BBC that there has been no peace in the Dia region following last week's protests.

“Ghanaians have returned to normal life as business is running as normal since last Thursday's protests,” he says.

According to Dr. Darko, the protest that took place in the Dia area is the first time an anti-immigration march has been held, as has been happening in Mthatha for the last 30 years.

He says that good relations between foreigners and locals in this area last for many years.

“I have not been hiya with Ghanaians for 30 years, they have not been hiya for a long time, some people come on contract and ODA arrangement, but we and the locals have been very good since then. Only last Thursday, we saw them protest for hiya, this place has always been peaceful.”

Oga Darko says they have received notice that they will hold Anoda protest for D area on May 11.

“We have made plans for the demonstration in May so that no one is affected by it. I am contacting DIA station commanders for Mthatha and alerting them,” Oga Darko said.

He added, “We do not discuss with the mayor for this area and Oda Pipo, so they are at the top of Di Mata before the protest for Hiia on May 11.”

The Di Mthatha community president says to keep the situation in Ghana under control, ask your family and friends to remain calm.

“During his address for the National Independence Day celebrations the President of South Africa said of this mother, he means tins go beta. We hope tins will return to normalcy in ODA parts of the country.”

I advise Ghanaians to stay in the communities around Pretoria and Oda to remain indoors and avoid gathering as a group in public at this time.

“Di High Commissioner Bin sent a notice to us and Oda community leaders before the protest in Pretoria. I am saying that we should not join any protest, build Pipo de Dia House.”

“It also asks that we keep a low profile and make Pipo no to post any kind of confusion on social media and attract the attention of local people. So I am sharing this letter with all members of the community.”

Dr Yirenky Gyeke Darko said they have been in touch with Ghanaian community leaders in Queenstown and East London and they are sharing information on how to stay safe and work in peace.

Earlier, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) had issued an advisory to Nigerians for the Southern Region, advising them to exercise caution and avoid areas where the problem may escalate.

NIDCOM advised Nigerians to avoid confrontation, stay away from protest areas and closely monitor local media for updates.

The statement said the Nigeria diplomatic mission to Johannesburg remains open and is working with South African security agencies to ensure the safety of Indian nationals.

“The African Union has intervened to call out the despicable xenophobic attacks against blacks in South Africa,” Abike Dabiri, president of NIDCOM, said in a briefing.

Xenophobia has long been an issue for South Africa and has sometimes led to deadly violence.

Ghana's Foreign Ministry says Dia officials will also meet with Thando Dlamba, South Africa's acting high commissioner to Ghana, to express formal protest over recent “xenophobic incidents” against foreigners, including Dia citizens.

According to official figures, South Africa is home to about 2.4 million migrants, which is just less than 4% of the total population. However, the belief informally says much more.

Most of them come from neighboring countries such as Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, given their history of providing migrant labor to their wealthier neighbors. A small number come from Nigeria.

The southern country also faces a complex migration crisis, largely due to high unemployment, severe economic inequality and strained public services. Violent protests targeting African immigrants often result.

Vigilante groups such as Operation Dudula, which aims to force the Zulu language, and March on March claim that immigrants live throughout South Africa and blame immigrants for many other social problems, particularly unemployment and drug abuse.

They organize demonstrations in major cities that sometimes turn violent and result in attacks on foreign-owned shops.

Earlier this week, a protest was headed to the port city of Durban in March and a clip that circulated on social media showed some participants seriously attacking a man they believed was an illegal alien.