Nigerians’ evacuation begins Wednesday, as South Africans insist foreigners must leave

There were fresh protests in eastern Johannesburg  on Sunday, with the protesters  demanding that  “foreigners must go back to where they came from.”

During the fresh attacks, one person died, while five others were injured. The nationality of the dead has not been known as of the time of filing this report.

A South African newspaper, Sowetan Live, reported that marchers, who carried weapons such as knobkerries, headed  for Jules Park where former Inkatha Freedom Party  leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, addressed them.

According to the newspaper, the protesters were chanting, “foreigners must go back to where they came from.”

The BBC reported on Sunday that South Africans disrupted a speech in Johannesburg by Buthelez who tried to quell tensions following last week’s riots and xenophobic attacks.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Mission in South Africa says no fewer than 400 Nigerians have indicated interest and registered to be evacuated from South Africa following the recent xenophobic attacks.

Nigeria’s Consul General in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, said this in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria  on Sunday in Abuja.

Adama said that Air Peace had offered to airlift those willing to return home following attacks on Nigerians and their businesses by South Africans.

According to him, the first batch of Nigerians who are willing to return home will be repatriated on Wednesday.

“We have more than enough for that aircraft. Over 400 Nigerians have already registered; more are still coming,’’ he said.

– Punch