Senate to South Africa: attacks unacceptable.

WORRIED by the raging gang attacks on Africans in South Africa, the Senate yesterday warned the President Jacob Zuma government to refrain from over-stretching Nigeria beyond limits.

It also urged the Federal Government to recall the Nigerian High Commissioner in Pretoria, Ambassador S.S. Yusuf for consultation without further delay.

Besides, the upper legislative chamber urged the government to take a legal action against the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The decisions were taken by the Senate after  debating a motion on “Rising incidence of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.”

The 10-paragraph motion was sponsored by Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba and supported by 108 others, who spoke in anger.

Among those who echoed Ndoma-Egba’s position are:  Ganiyu Solomon, Ita Enang, Abdul Ningi, Adamu Gimba, Andy Uba, Nkechi Nwaogu, ‘Gbenga Ashafa, Helen Esuene, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Kabiru Gaya.

Senate President David Mark, who summarised the contributions of the Senators, described the attacks as unacceptable and uncalled for, warning that there is a limit beyond which Nigeria will no longer accept the excesses of the South African attackers.

Mark said: “What is happening in South Africa is totally unacceptable; it is unexpected, and my humble suggestion will be that South Africa should not stretch us beyond our elastic limit on this matter.

“There is a limit beyond which the nation will not accept what is happening in South Africa and if we go beyond that limit, then Nigeria will be forced to act otherwise.”

He said contributors to the motion have clearly enumerated the support Nigeria gave to South Africa when it had crises.

Nigerian students, he said, contributed. The Nigerian government accommodated so many South Africans and gave them scholarships.

Said Mark: “For them to repay us this way, I think it is totally unacceptable and uncalled for; we need to stand up also for all other Africans in South Africa.

“The African Parliament must take this up seriously; we cannot have a situation where one king gets up and begins to say that people should go away; that is preaching hatred and is unacceptable.

“I agree with most of you that we have a responsibility to protect our citizens. In fact, that is our first responsibility and we must do that without thinking twice.”

He described the photographs being circulated on xenophobic attacks as barbaric and recommended those involved for punishment.

The Senate President urged South Africa to show Nigeria and the rest of Africa that its government has taken legal steps against the perpetrators.

Mark suggested the transmission of the Senate resolutions on the attacks to the South African Parliament.

In his lead debate, Ndoma-Egba said the Senate noted with anxiety the wave of attacks in parts of Johannesburg and Durban by locals on African immigrants.

He said the attacks had led to the death of no fewer than seven persons, massive looting and destruction of foreigners’ property, forcing hundreds of migrants to relocate to police stations and other safer havens.

Ndoma-Egba said that the Senate’s concern was on Nigerians living in South Africa, who have been seriously affected by the crisis.

He said no fewer than 50 of them have been reportedly rendered homeless after being displaced by the attacks and some 300 others displaced near Johannesburg.

The Senator added that as at the last count, multi-million naira property and businesses belonging to Nigerians  have been destroyed.

He said that the Senate was worried that Nigerians living in South Africa who have always been targets of such attacks and other foreigners have maintained that immigrants could not really rely on the police for protection because the police maltreat and exhort money from them, rather than offer a helping hand.

He recalled that prior to 1994, though immigrants faced discrimination and even violence in South Africa, much of that risk stemmed from the institutionalised racism of that era due to apartheid.

The Senator noted that after democratisation in 1994, contrary to expectations, the incidence of xenophobia increased such that between 2000 and March 2008, at least 67 people died in what were identified as xenophobic attacks.

Ndoma-Egba said that likewise, in May 2008, a series of riots triggered by xenophobia left 62 people dead, expressing concern that the wave of attacks was precipitated by the comments of a renowned Zulu King.

“While these barbaric acts were going on, some members of the South African security forces who ought to quell the violence, protect victims and prevent the violence from escalating were photographed encouraging the perpetrators to continue in their dastardly acts.”

Ndoma-Egba described as unfortunate that despite the sacrifices made by Nigeria to put an end to apartheid and ensure the emancipation of South Africa, South Africans have continued to maltreat and humiliate Nigerians without any just cause.

The other resolutions passed by the Senate include:

To condemn in strong terms the recent spate of xenophobic attacks on immigrants and particularly Nigerians in South Africa.

To invite the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, to brief the Senate on the situation and measures being taken to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians in South Africa.

To urge the Federal Government to pressurize the Government of South Africa to bring the perpetrators of this evil act to justice and ensure adequate protection of Nigerians and their investments in that country as well as compensate families who have lost members and those who have lost property as a result of these attacks.

The Senate commended Nigerians for their restraint in the face of unwarranted provocation and attacks.

 The Nation.