President Mahama has described as unfortunate xenophobic attacks on black migrants in South Africa.
“It’s most regrettable and most unfortunate. I think that the young people of South Africa do not know what happened before they gained their freedom,” President Mahama said in an interaction with the media in Nigeria.
Over 10 people have been confirmed dead in xenophobic attacks in the rainbow nation. The locals accuse the black foreigners of taking over their jobs rendering them jobless.
Several African leaders including President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe have condemned the attacks describing them as disgraceful.
President Mahama added that the behaviour of South Africa betrays the other African countries who led the fight against apartheid.
“The whole of this continent stood behind South Africa, the whole of Africa stood behind South Africa to fight apartheid. Indeed for several of the countries where their citizens were brutalized in South Africa, these are countries that were called front line space that haboured the freedom fighters of South Africa that gave them safe haven, gave them passports to be able to avoid the clutches of the apartheid regime.
“So it is regrettable that the same people who fought against apartheid are being attacked in this way,” Mahama said.
Zuma must sit up
President Mahama also called on President Zuma to sit up and ensure that attacks on black foreigners is brought to an end.
“I think that the government must sit up and take strong action, those who have been involved in this atrocity must be brought to book and must be punished so that it serves as a deterrent so it doesn’t happen in future.”
“The unfortunate thing is that this is not the first time, it keeps flaring up, and so while we are condemning this incident we must work with the South African government to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.
“We are trying to create an integrated continent where our people can move freely amongst our countries. This does not set a good example for integration especially South Africa that have investment all over our countries.”
