Xenophobic attacks are spreading across South Africa in an alarming rate frightening not only Nigerians but other foreigners as well.
According to a Ghanaian citizen, Fenzy living in South Africa, the violence started last week after a Nigerian stabbed a South African to death after a confrontation over an alleged drug sale by the Nigerian to the South African’s child.
Speaking on the ‘Ayekoo Drive’ hosted by DJ Advicer, Fenzy said, “The immense hatred towards foreigners by South Africans is a build up to the recent xenophobic attacks and not the stabbing incident”.
He also added that, the attacks started in Petoria against Nigerians but has now spread to other parts of the country and against all foreigners and fears it will spread further.
“Because we fear for our lives, most of us have locked ourselves indoors and we have gone hungry for days hoping the authorities resolve this issue quiclky”, he cried out.
The South African government does not collect data on attacks or threats against foreign nationals.
However, the African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS) has monitored these attacks across South Africa since 1994. Its Xenowatch tracker collates media reports as well as information from activists, victims and observers.
Threats, attacks and killings against foreigners in South Africa
It suggests violent attacks peaked in 2008 and again in 2015. In 2008, there was a wave of attacks across the country against refugees and migrants – more than 60 people were reported to have been killed and thousands displaced.
