A South African mob has destroyed properties in an attack on foreigners, including Nigerians based in the country.
President of the Nigeria Union South Africa, Adetola Olubajo, said attacks began on Sunday morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg.
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According to him, the angry mob set a building ablaze in the area.
President Muhammadu Buhari had met his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, at the recently held TICAD7 in Japan.
Buhari was assured that South Africa was making efforts to stop the attack on Nigerians.
However, Mr Olubajo said in a statement on Monday that the mob “looted several shops that were around the vicinity suspected to be owned by foreign nationals.”
He said the police later dispersed the mob and made some arrests.
Olubajo added: “Late in the evening of Sunday, September 1, a group of violent locals suspected to be Zulu hostel dwellers besieged Jules Street in Malvern; Johannesburg looted and burned shops/businesses.”
Olubajo said information gathered by members of NUSA in Malvern area indicated that over 50 shops/businesses were destroyed, looted and burnt overnight.
“Also, some businesses owned by foreign nationals were looted in Germiston on Sunday evening. A Nigerian-owned internet café and computer accessories business were among the looted shops in Germiston.
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“Nigerian-owned businesses were seriously affected. A car sales business owned by a Nigerian was among the several businesses set ablaze over the night,” he said.
Olubajo urged Nigerians in South Africa, especially in Gauteng Province, to be vigilant and stay safe.
He also called on the Nigerian government to “seriously engage their counterparts in South Africa.”
