Breaking: Again, South Africans launch xenophobic attacks on Nigerians, others; 2 stabbed

Armed protesters are on the streets of Johannesburg, South Africa demanding the immediate departure of foreigners.

According to Sowetan Live, a South African newspaper, the protesters, who carried weapons such as knobkerries, are waiting to be addressed by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a notable politician and Zulu tribe leader.

The protest is coming one week after attacks on foreigners sparked reactions across the continent.

Nigeria, Rwanda and Malawi pulled out of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Cape Town while Zambia cancelled an international friendly match with South Africa over the violence against foreigners.

Confirming this latest development, the President, Nigerian Union South Africa, Adetola Olubajo, said already two persons have been stabbed on Sunday in a resurgence of xenophobic protests.

Olubajo said, “It’s confirmed that two people were stabbed by Taxi Rank  and Jeppe Road in Johannesburg Central Business District and we have informed the Consul-General of Nigeria in Johannesburg and the police in Jeppestown.

“I’m not sure (of their nationalities) as the police have taken them to hospital. Their identities were not disclosed. The police are using rubber bullets to disperse them.”

According to the NUSA president, there was a meeting on Sunday morning which the police minister was supposed to address.

He said a popular South African activist, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, addressed the South Africans, calling for peace, but some of the protesters got angry and left.

Olubajo added, “Now, they are chanting ‘foreigners must go’ with some dangerous weapons in their hands. They have moved from Jeppestown to Braamfontein even to the CBD Taxi Rank in town.

“Though we have been monitoring the incident for the past three hours now, police have not been able to disperse them. Our fear is that they may start looting again in the night.

“We have sent an alert to the Nigerians. Immediately, we used our various social media platforms to do that. We sent it to ourstructures and the entirety of Nigerians. Most Nigerians are aware of this by now because there are photos and videos, and it is also televised by SABC.”

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