South Africans after our lives, Nigerians raise the alarm

Some Nigerians in South Africa have
cried out against the xenophobic
attacks on Africans in parts of the
country.
In separate telephone interviews
with SUNDAY PUNCH, the Nigerian
migrants expressed their fear of
attacks as death threats were being
circulated on social media.
Itunu Bodunrin, who on Monday
had attended his master’s degree
graduation ceremony at the
University of KwaZulu-Natal,
Durban, told our correspondent
that he was unable to leave the
school campus afterwards due to
the violence in the town.
Bodunrin forwarded a text message
to our correspondent which,
according to him, had been
circulated among South African
residents via an instant messaging
mobile application, WhatsApp.
In the message, signed by several
groups, including the Patriotic
Movement, Pan Local Forum,
Unemployed Workers Forum and
Anti-Crime Movement, Nigerians
and other African foreigners were
warned to leave the country.
It read in part, “Dear neighbour
from Africa and other parts of the
world, we have travelled the world
and have not found one country
that allows the floods of humans
across its borders as South Africa is
experiencing. Even in war-torn
parts like Syria, Ukraine, Yemen and
Somali.
“We were seven million people in
Johannesburg city in 2011. Today,
we have an estimated 13 million. In
Johannesburg alone, you have
taken over entire suburbs: Yeoville,
Berea, Bez Valley, Turfontein,
among many. You have even
moved into rural parts of our
country that have 80-per-cent
unemployment, and there are no
visible signs that you have jobs
either.
“We want to be proudly part of the
geographic construct called Africa,
but we are as different from one
another as Kenyans are from
Nigerians; Ivorians from Chadians,
etc.
“We are pleading with you to
return to your home countries. Go
and build up those countries so
that we can all live in economic,
social and political prosperity and
peace as neighbours. The genocide
in this corner of Africa will be far
worse than what happened in
Rwanda in 1994. Then the entire
continent will be condemned to
ashes. Is that what you want?
“South Africans not fully employed
or who were found guilty of crimes,
were recently repatriated from
Nigeria and rightly so.
“Our people are preparing for war
against all foreigners (from
Bulgaria, Pakistan and Bangladesh
to Africa, north of the Limpopo) and
we are all very scared. Please go
home and build Africa. Millions will
die if you don’t. This we can
guarantee.”
Similarly, Samson Ojako, a master’s
degree student studying
Mathematics also at the University
of KwaZulu-Natal noted that
looting had been rampant for over
a week.
“Those that opened their shops
were attacked by the Zulu. During
all of this, those of us on campus
were warned by the school
management to stay indoors. They
said no one should leave the school
premises, especially during the
weekend.”
Ojako noted that a large number of
Zulus often migrated from their
villages into town on weekends in
order to launch attacks on non-
nationals.
He likened the last one week to life
in a refugee camp, saying that
those living on campus could not
go out to shop for food.
“A lot of people are living in fear,
especially the ladies. Even for us
who are guys, last week, we had to
move in groups,” he said.
Olawale Olawepo, another Nigerian
studying for a doctorate degree in
Industrial Organisation and Labour
Studies said the school authorities
also warned students against
taking public transportation.

It is better to come home until mater is solve
We only have one life to leave better to protect it