AU Charges Africans to Unite against Xenophobia in S'Africa

President of Ghana, John Mahama

   *No country has monopoly of violence, TUC warns
Damilola Oyedele and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The representative of Nigeria in the African Union (AU), and the Economic, Social and Cultural Council’s 2nd Permanent General Assembly, Dr. Tunji Asaolu has called on African countries to unite against the xenophobic violence currently going on in South Africa.

Also, the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government on Friday condemned the attacks in South Africa. In a statement by its Chair, President of Ghana, John Mahama, the ECOWAS heads called on the South African government to act quickly to stop the wave of attacks across the country.

These calls came as the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) also condemned the attacks in strong words, pointing out that no country has monopoly of violence. It also called on the government of Nigeria to evacuate her citizens from South Africa to stem the attacks.

Asaolu who also doubles as the Chairperson, Social Affairs and Health cluster committee of the AU, in a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday in Abuja described the violence in South Africa as unfortunate and that it should be seriously discouraged.

He equally called on the South African government do all within its ability to stop the violence and protect all foreigners in the country.
Asaolu noted that other African countries must rise to support the South African government at this time, adding that this was not the time to condemn any government but should be given necessary support to ensure that the government overcomes the crisis and to stop it spreading to other African countries.

He stated: "African countries must unite to ensure that there will be no repeat of 2008 scenario, where about 62 people were killed. We understand what the government is going through now and we express our sympathy.

"But we want to encourage the government to ensure adequate protection of all foreigners in the country. Also, the countries should prevail on their citizens to forestall reprisal attack," Asaolu noted.

According to BBC, at least five foreigners, including a 14-year-old boy, had been killed in attacks in South Africa's coastal city of Durban since last week. Some foreign-owned shops in the main city Johannesburg have shut amid fears that the violence could spread.

Zimbabwe has also condemned the attacks, blamed on locals who accuse foreigners of taking their jobs. Tens of thousands of foreigners, mostly from other African states and Asia, have moved to South Africa since white-minority rule ended in 1994.

TUC President General, Bobboi Kaigama and Secretary General Musa Lawal said: “We wish to bring to the notice of South Africans that no man or country has monopoly of violence. In as much as we wouldn’t want to repay evil with evil, we should not be pushed to the wall.”

TUC lamented that South African companies operating in Nigeria remained anti-labour in their operations as several efforts made to unionise staff of MTN, DSTV and others had been to no avail.

It added that such practice could not be allowed in South Africa as some Nigerian investors who tried to invest there returned because of strict labour laws.

"Nigeria is a country that accommodates all and sundry including South Africans and today, we see this rare opportunity being grossly abused by the likes of South Africa. They own several multi -billion dollar investments on our soils yet, we co-exist despite all odds. The same people will come here to dehumanise Nigerians? Not anymore. This must stop! This sacrifice is becoming too grave to bear and over-stretched all to ensure peaceful co-existence," the statement read.

TUC lamented that those involved in the attacks had forgotten how Nigeria and other countries rallied to help stop apartheid, describing it as a demonstration of shortness of memory. It called on the Jacob Zuma-led government to live up to its responsibilities by taking all necessary steps to stop the dastardly act of stealing, killing in the current unrest which is spreading to other cities.

"We demand that the government investigate and punish those involved in accordance with the provisions of the law of the land.

"The fact that the very people whose nation sacrificed to help South Africans fight, repel and defeat apartheid will today be considered aliens and hacked to death in such barbaric manners," the statement read.
Brand South Africa condemns violence…

Brand South Africa on Friday joined the rest of the country in condemning the acts of violence against some foreign nationals residing in some of the nine provinces of South Africa.

“We assure all our partners in the continent that South Africa stands firmly against all intolerances such as racism, xenophobia, homophobia and sexism. As such, security forces are hard at work around the clock to protect vulnerable communities in the country.

“The country remains true to its founding ethos that any problems or issues of concern by South African citizens must be resolved peacefully and through dialogue. Brand South Africa assures our partners that South Africans are generally not xenophobic; this is attested to by the high number of foreign nationals who have been successfully integrated into communities all over our country, in towns, cities and villages.

“Preliminary work done towards resolving this current challenge indicates that the root causes are socio-economic issues that have been raised and are being attended to by all South African role players,” said Brand South Africa in a statement signed by its Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Alice Puoane.

It added: “Brand South Africa expresses its sincere sympathies to the regrettable loss of lives and injuries suffered during this unfortunate occurrence. We are one Africa bound by many areas of commonalities and our spirit of Ubuntu (humanity - I am because you are) will prevail even under the trying circumstances.”