Xenophobic Attack: South African Government Arrest Over 70 Suspects

At least 70 people have been arrested after properties including cars belonging to Nigerians in the country, were set ablaze by South Africans in the wake of another xenophobic attack.

“Police are condemning all acts of violence directed at the businesses and the looting of shops described as those of foreign nationals by criminal opportunists,” the office of the provincial commissioner said in a statement on Facebook.

Police also said they were investigating a death in Hillbrow, a residential neighborhood in central Johannesburg, where a “member of the public” was allegedly shot by a group.

“At this stage [we] are still interviewing several people to establish the motive,” it said.

Naija News recalls that this episode of violence has prompted a flurry of high-level condemnations and criticisms from international bodies and government officials across various countries.

The violence echoes sporadic outbreaks of attacks mainly targeting migrants from other African countries in some of South Africa’s poorest areas.

It should be recalled that in 2008 and 2015, the world was horrified by the savage scenes of xenophobic violence towards African immigrants in South Africa despite the unprecedented support provided by African countries during South Africa’s struggle to end ‘apartheid’.