South Africa Finally Admits Xenophobia Responsible For Attacks On Foreigners

After failing to see recent attacks against foreigners in the country as xenophobic, the South African Government has now described the attacks as ‘Afrophobia’ – the fear of fellow Africans.

South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Naledi Pandor, admitted this on Thursday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum On Africa in Cape Town, the country’s legislative capital.

Pandor blamed prejudice on the part of South Africans for anti-foreigner violence in the country.

She said this after South Africa shut down its High Commission in Nigeria over fear of reprisal attacks by irate Nigerian youths.

The high commission was shut down following attacks on South African businesses like MTN and Shoprite, which were also forced to close shops nationwide over the reprisals.

Pandor also said South African Government was engaging Nigerian authorities to address the matter.

“There is an Afrophobia we are sensing that exists, there is resentment and we need to address that.

“There is a targeting of Africans from other parts of Africa, we can’t deny that. But, there is also criminality … because a lot of this is accompanied by theft,” she said

THE WHISTLER had reported on Wednesday that the Nigerian Government  announced ongoing arrangements to evacuate its citizens from South Africa.

The government had earlier boycotted the conference where Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was billed to represent the country.