Tensions are rising in South Africa as a fast-approaching deadline for foreign nationals to leave has sparked safety fears.
Speaking on Nigeria Info’s Morning Crossfire, Ezeanozie Eleberi, National Secretary of the Igbo Union in South Africa, described the situation as highly dangerous.
He claimed the hostility is politically motivated, with certain leaders using anti-foreigner sentiment to gain political power.
According to Eleberi, the violence is no longer just targeting immigrants.
He reported that a 19-year-old South African boy was recently killed because attackers mistook him for a foreigner.
He added that anyone who does not speak the Zulu language is now being targeted, including senior South African police officers.
The situation has also caused a diplomatic disagreement.
South Africa’s Minister of International Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, recently denied reports that any Nigerians have been killed in the latest unrest.
However, Eleberi strongly rejected the minister's claims, accusing officials of denying the truth.
He provided the name of an Imo State native, Lotanna Wisdom Okori, who he states was tied up and killed by attackers in Vereeniging last month.
Eleberi stated that Okori’s body is currently with a private undertaker in Johannesburg, awaiting an evacuation flight back to Nigeria.
Eleberi also mentioned a few other names, including Previous Nwama, as casualties of the xenophobic attacks.
Local civil society groups continue to push for African nationals to leave the country, raising fears of further instability.
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