The Senate has asked the Executive arm of government to recall Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa following the spate of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals.
The Senate also asked the Executive to file a suit at the International Criminal Court against the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwethilini, whose comments allegedly set off the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
However, the influential Zulu King on Monday during an address claimed that his comments were misconstrued and described recent anti-immigrant attacks as “vile”, defending himself against claims that previous comments he made about foreigners had fuelled the unrest.
At least seven people have been killed in the latest wave of anti-immigrant violence to hit South Africa, which began almost three weeks ago in Durban, a coastal city in the Zulu heartland.
The Zulu King addressed a traditional gathering called Imbizo at the Moses Mabhida Football Stadium in Durban. The meeting was schedule days ago, as one of the strategies that the South African government is exploring to end the wave of attacks.
“We need to make sure no more foreigners are attacked. We must stop these vile acts,” Zwelithini told thousands of supporters at the stadium on Monday.
While he spoke, some hostile sections of the crowd were singing and calling for immigrants to leave and booed an earlier speaker who said foreigners had a right to live in South Africa.
Zwelithini has been accused of fuelling the xenophobic attacks after local media quoted him as saying that foreigners should leave South Africa.
He said his comments were taken out of context.
Sen. Ita Enang noted that the xenophobic attacks in South Africa is a setback for the goal of integration especially in South Africa which has investments in different countries in Africa.
He warned that South African businesses in Nigeria have been taking Nigerians for granted with their business operations.
The South African government is reported to have deployed soldiers to volatile areas in Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal in a bid to quell anti-immigrant violence.
The deployment was made on Tuesday, as xenophobic attacks that have left at least 7 dead begin to reduce.
The South African government also promised to deal with those behind the recent looting of businesses, and xenophobic attacks on African immigrants.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, says 300 people are already being questioned for their roles, and if found guilty, the strength of the law will come down hard on them.
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