Xenophobia: Houses belonging to Nigerians burnt in South Africa

Africa Review has reported that xenophobic attacks took another dimension in Rosettenvile area of South Africa on Sunday as more than 15 houses either belonging to or rented by immigrants, especially Nigerians, have been burnt by angry residents.

The residents were reported to be angry that foreign nationals had turned the neighbourhood into a drug haven. South African residents in the area claimed Nigerians had illegally taken over most properties and turned them into drug and prostitution dens. The African Diaspora Forum (ADM) chairperson, Mr. Marc Gbaffou, confirmed the attacks and blamed Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba, for his inflammatory comments. On Friday, he visited Rosettenville where he made claims that foreign nationals were using girls as young as nine as prostitutes in "drug houses".

"According to community members, these homes are illegally occupied by Nigerian foreign nationals who run the homes as brothels and have girls as young as nine years old working as prostitutes. Many of the women in these brothels are also alleged to have no official identification documentation," said Mashaba. Gbaffou said it was reckless for the mayor to make such a statement without proof. "What proof does he have that foreigners are running these brothels? His remarks are very inflammatory, and it makes no difference that he has diverted from illegal immigrants to drug peddling. It is very dangerous and we see it as propaganda of hatred," he said.