President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Ikechukwu Anyene, tells OLUFEMI ATOYEBI that Nigerians who lost their businesses and property to the recent xenophobic attack on foreign nationals in the country need support to rebuild their lives
What is the essence of forming the association?
It’s an association founded to protect the interest of Nigerians here. It is also an association formed to bring together all Nigerians working or schooling in South Africa under a common umbrella.
What is the population of Nigerians in South Africa registered with the Nigerian Union?
As at today, the union can boast of more than 100,000 members. They are scattered all over the country.
What kind of business are they engaged in?
There are many Nigerians who are doctors, nurses, Information Technology experts, auto mechanics and other artisans, traders and other professions. In a huge way, Nigerians contribute positively to South Africa’s economy.
Do you hold meetings regularly?
At the national level, we hold national congress annually and sometimes, we have emergency national congress. National congress comprises of 10 elected delegates from each provincial chapter. Provincial chapters and ward chapters hold meetings every three months. National executive council which has elected national officers and chairmen and secretaries of the provincial chapters hold meetings every three months unless there’s an emergency. Other executive structures hold meetings more regularly.
Where is the headquarters of your union?
Our headquarters is situated at Kutlwanong Democracy Centre, 357, Visagie Street, Pretoria.
What is the situation of Nigerians now after the xenophobic attacks by their hosts?
After the attacks, Nigerians returned to their normal lives though similar attacks were recorded again in a small town of Steinkopf, Northern Cape.
Can you quantify the losses in financial term? Any loss of lives?
No Nigerian died during the attacks but estimation of losses in financial value is up to N60m (around R4.6m).
How many Nigerians were involved in the attack?
Apart from the displaced and the injured, so many Nigerians had their shops or property either looted or destroyed.
There was a report of renewed attack on Nigerians by their hosts. How true is this report?
It is true that there were renewed attacks in Steinkopf town of Northern Cape. But it is now under control.
Did you meet the South African government to report the attack and what was their response?
We have always engaged the South African authorities and like in the current case, they have always deployed law enforcement agencies in affected areas to quell the unrest. We have also engaged different community leaders to forge partnership with local Nigeria Union chapters to build harmonious co-existence.
What is the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa doing about it?
We work closely with the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg during the last wave of attacks but the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria has not been very helpful.
What do you think is the reason for this attack?
The mentioned reasons range from complaints of foreigners competing for scarce resources to competing for jobs. Competition between hosts men and male visitors for women and so many other socio-economic issues have also contributed to the hostile posture of the hosts. But ignorance, poverty and lack of effective policing is the major problem in our opinion.
Is it true that some Nigerians deal in illicit drug trade in South Africa and what are you doing to curb the menace?
Yes, it is true that small percentage of Nigerians engage in illegal activities like drugs, financial fraud and even robbery. The union has been educating Nigerians to avoid crime.
We have also developed a proposal on skill acquisition to help train idle Nigerians. It will require funding. Also in many areas where the community complains that Nigerians are involved in crime such as Posmasburg, Rustenburg, Rosentenville and so on, we managed to bring together our local chapters and community leaders to work towards fishing out the bad elements and reporting them to the police.
But ultimately it is the duty of the law enforcement agencies to fight crime. Ordinary citizens can only support.
There are reports of Nigerians living in South Africa without valid documents. What is your union doing to address this?
Yes there are Nigerians in South Africa without valid documents. Our advice has always been that they either regularise themselves or go back to Nigeria to avoid being arrested and dragging Nigeria’s name into the mud.
Do you think that the Nigerian government has done enough to address the xenophobic attack on its citizens?
We think that our government has done their best but more needed to be done. Also the hardworking Nigerians that lost everything during the attack need the support of their home country so they can rebuild their lives.
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