By Sandra Kenneth
The South African government has arrested approximately 80 members of vigilante groups allegedly involved in xenophobic attacks and criminal activities targeting foreign nationals across the country.
The Consul-General of South Africa to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, disclosed this during the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Forum held on Wednesday in Lagos. The event was centered around the theme “The Future of Nigeria-South Africa Relations: Advancing Bilateral Cooperation in a Changing World.”
Moroe revealed that the arrests were carried out across five to six provinces as law enforcement agencies intensified efforts to restore order and crack down on individuals taking the law into their own hands.
“In South Africa, we have witnessed acts of criminality by vigilante groups calling for illegal migrants to return home and taking the law into their own hands,” Moroe said. “About 80 people involved in these criminal acts and who are members of vigilante groups have been arrested across five to six provinces, and the law is taking its due course.”
Reaffirming the South African government’s official stance, the envoy emphasized that violence against foreign nationals is neither supported nor tolerated by authorities, noting that the country’s legal framework safeguards everyone residing within its borders.
“Let me be clear on behalf of my government that the South African Constitution protects both regular and irregular migrants,” he said. “Only competent law enforcement agencies and immigration officers have the legal standing to deal with migration issues.”
Moroe also dismissed widespread claims that the South African state was behind or complicit in the attacks against Nigerians and other foreign nationals, labeling those allegations as unfounded.
“In Nigeria, we have seen direct reprisals and pushbacks as a direct response to what is perceived as an onslaught by the South African government against migrants. I can tell you for free, this is fake news,” Moroe stated. “These acts of criminality by groups taking the law into their own hands do not represent the sentiments of South Africans.”
He concluded by reiterating that the actions of vigilante groups do not reflect the values of the nation, reaffirming that authorities remain committed to prosecuting offenders and maintaining human rights for all residents.
