Union accuses 2 South African communities of issuing quit notice to Nigerians

The Nigeria Union in South Africa on Wednesday accused two communities in that country of ordering Nigerians residing within their territories to leave.

The President of   the union, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Pretoria that the Kuruman community in Northern Cape Province gave Nigerians till Friday to leave.

Anyene also said that the Klaafontein community, Extension 5, Johannesburg, directed landlords not to renew the rent of Nigerians in the area.

He said that the grievance of the South Africans was that Nigerians were responsible for some social vices such as illicit drug trade and prostitution.

“The Nigeria Union held series of meetings with the affected communities as well as police and local authorities on the recent threats to Nigerians.

“We have also written reports on these incidents and sent to the Nigerian Mission and the South African police.

“We recommended interventions before the June 16 deadline to the mission and we are waiting for their response.

“The union is worried that any incident involving non South Africans are attributed to Nigerians,” he said.

Anyene said that a Ugandan male, who allegedly raped a girl in Kwazulu Natal Province, was described as a Nigerian in the media.

“The union believes that the Early Warning Unit set up by the Nigerian and South African governments is yet to be effective.

“We are yet to have any meeting since the ministers of the two countries met.

“Since then, there have been sustained media propaganda against our people here,” Anyene  said.