Anti-immigration sentiment in South Africa has reached a new dimension, with anti-immigrant groups issuing a June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners, including Nigerians, to leave the country. The development has reportedly caused panic among documented and undocumented foreign nationals, who are worried about their safety.
The Cyril Ramaphosa government has been under pressure from protesters in past weeks to deport illegal immigrants, whom they blame for rising unemployment and crime levels in their country.
Following waves of xenophobic violence against their citizens as a result of the development, Nigeria and other African countries lodged diplomatic protests with the Rainbow Nation complaining about the treatment of their citizens.
But xenophobic protests have continued in the former apartheid area, with some protesters reportedly confronting and threatening foreigners and asking them to leave. Chimpreports yesterday that a prominent figure in the 'March and March Movement' was filmed threatening some immigrants with dire consequences.
The group reportedly told immigrants: “There is a June 30 deadline, but it's not like you have to leave on June 30. “Don't leave on June 30; Leave now because on June 30 I cannot control the people of South Africa.” The report claimed that despite assurances by the authorities about the safety of life and property, many foreign nationals are quite worried.
Meanwhile, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has stressed that no individual or group has the right to direct any person to leave the country. SAPS spokesperson, Athlenda Mathey, said: “No individual or group has the authority to direct any individual to leave the country.
“Immigration-related matters are governed by (law) and dealt with through relevant law enforcement and immigration processes.” Meanwhile, according to OSV News, Catholic bishops in Africa have urged the South African government to quickly end the violence amid reports of deaths and injuries.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, president of the Seminar of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, known as SECAM, condemned the violence as un-African between armed groups marching to expel foreign black African migrants. Cardinal Ambongo said SECAM is “deeply concerned” about recent events, which have been “marked by acts of xenophobic violence against citizens of other African countries.”
Please follow and like us: