South Africa has expressed concern over the call by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) for the expulsion of South Africans and protest at South African owned businesses in Nigeria.
The country made its feelings known in a statement issued by Ms Anna-Maria Jojozi, Counsellor in-charge of Political Affairs at the South African High Commission in Abuja on Sunday.
Jojozi quoted Dr Naledi Pandor (MP), Minister, International Relations and Cooperation, to have expressed the feeling at the South African Development Community (SADC) meeting held in South Africa on Sunday.
She said that the meeting sought to discuss President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa’s official visit to President John Magufuli of Tanzania, for the SADC Summit, from Wednesday to Thursday.
Said Jojozi: “I wish to express my department’s concern regarding statements said to emanate from student organisation in Nigeria, calling for expulsion of South Africans and protests at South African owned businesses.
“The protests are said to be in response to alleged killings of Nigerians by South Africans; as you are aware these allegations are devoid of truth, reckless and unwarranted.
“We find these statements most unfortunate as they do not reflect the strong relations that exist between the people and the Government of South Africa and Nigeria.
“The two countries enjoy strong bilateral relations, which were forged over many years during our struggle for liberation in South Africa; also, in this democratic era supported by the people and Government of Nigeria.”
Jojozi said South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Bobby Moroe, had held several meetings with the police and other senior government officials in Nigeria.
She said South Africa had established contact from the highest level of the Nigerian Government and received assurances that authorities in Nigeria were taking the calls for protests seriously.
Said she: “They have also assured us that South African citizens and their property in Nigeria will be protected.
“South Africa values the strong ties it has established with Nigeria and will continue to enhance these even further”.
The counsellor said the statements referred to the unfortunate death of Mrs. Elizabeth Ndubuisi-Chukwu, Deputy Director-General of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, in June.
She said that, the South African Police Service was still investigating the incident.
Noted Jojozi: “We believe no one should abuse this unfortunate tragedy to generate negative sentiments about South Africa and we express our condolences to Mrs Ndubuisi-Chukwu’s family; friends and the people of Nigeria.”
She said the Minister of Police in South Africa, Mr Bheki Cele, had addressed the Diplomatic Corps early in the year and said there was no targeting of any group of Africans in South Africa.
Jojozi said that the law enforcement agencies were making effort to fight crime and arrest all criminals.
Said she: “It is worth mentioning that daily, Nigerian nationals travel to South Africa for multiplicity of reasons ranging from business, tourism and academic purposes.
“Similarly, South Africans have chosen Nigeria as preferred destination for investment and other activities of interest.
“Nigeria is home to approximately 120 South African companies, amongst which are MTN, Shoprite, Multichoice, South Africa Airways and Game – to mention but a few.
“All these companies have over the years contributed towards job creation and social responsibility programmes for Nigerian nationals, both young and old.
“We are very pleased that our strong relations were able to place South African business on firm footing in Nigeria, and pave way for investments by Nigerian business in South Africa” .
Jojozi expressed the hope that the High Commission in Nigeria would invite some stakeholders of the student organisations leading the calls for protests against South African businesses in Nigeria to South Africa.
Added she: “I will also ask my colleague, the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces of our Parliament to invite his counterpart, the Senate President of Nigeria and delegation to visit South Africa.
“To see that many Nigerians live in peace and harmony among South Africans, we would also ensure that delegation of members of the executive visit Nigeria to further strengthen our relations.
“I hope their visit will help them to develop a different view from that which they have about South Africa”.
She confirmed the incident in a statement, saying that police had begun to investigate the cause of the fire incident.
Tarkwa Bay is one of the small islands located along the Atlantic coast. It is an artificial island created during the construction of the Lagos Harbour.
Elkana said that on August 7, at about 10.30 a.m., the Takwa Bay Police Station received an information about a fire incident at Abagbo Village, Takwa Bay on Aug. 6, which claimed the lives of five children from the same family.
According to him, a team of detectives led by the Divisional Police Officer visited the scene.
“The mother of the victims, Mrs Florence Asoye , stated that she left home at about 6.30 p.m. to Takwa-Bay Jetty only to come back to see her room completely raised by fire.
“She said that she left her children under the care of one Suliat who locked the children in the room and left for an unknown destination.
“The children who were burnt beyond recognition are: Folake Ogundiya , 13, Abigail Ogundiya, 8 , Daniel Bakare, 6, Chidinma Achomye, 2, Nnamdi Achomye ,1 ,” he said.
Similarly, the Police also had commenced investigations into the death of a woman who died in a hotel room in Morogbo in Badagry area of the state where she had lodged.
The spokesman of the command said that on Aug. 9, at about 2p.m, the Morogbo Police Station received information that one Jessica, a lodger in South Bound Hotel, Morogbo, was found dead in her hotel room.
Elkana said the homicide detectives had visited the scene, and found the corpse of the deceased on the bed facing up, with swollen face and foam- like fluid coming out of her mouth.
“Her throat was knotted with clothes suggesting that she might have been strangulated.
“There were blood stains all over the place. The corpse was evacuated to a mortuary for autopsy while the scene was preserved for forensic analysis.
“The Commissioner of Police for Lagos State, CP Zubairu Muazu, has ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department based in Yaba to take over the investigation,” he said.
