XENOPHOBIA: We have an angry nation, we can’t stop attacks on Nigerians —South Africa’s Defense Minister

South Africa’s Defence Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has given reasons why the government would not be able to stop the attacks on Nigerians and other foreigners in the country

According to her, the attacks against foreigners in South Africa were not politically motivated but rather planned by criminals, therefore, the government could not prevent them.

Mapisa-Nqakula, while speaking in an interview with eNCA, a local channel, described South Africa as an angry nation and insisted that the government could not prevent the ongoing violence.

“The reality is that we have an angry nation. What’s happening can never be prevented by any government,” she said.

READ ALSO: #XENOPHOBIA: ASUU blames Nigerian govt for attacks on its citizens in S’Africa

According to her, the death of two people during a clash in Johannesburg CBD on Sunday, Sept. 8, could have been avoided but that it was well orchestrated by criminal elements.

“People are saying some heads of state decided not to attend WEF; we should be talking about why this whole thing is coinciding with the World Economic Forum,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.

“People are saying it is xenophobic attacks but it is not the first time we have had them in the past; here, we have criminals that have read the situation and are aware that we have challenges right now.

“We have talked on the issues of high rate of unemployment, of some foreign nationals who are not conducting themselves in an appropriate manner as we would expect, those breaking the bylaws of the country, and you now have criminal elements who have decided that we are going to use all of those things to find reasons to attack people.

“It is unfortunate and should not happen. The reality is that we need to have a serious dialogue about what is happening and we must take responsibility. The reality is that we are an angry nation and we must talk about it.

“Why are we an angry nation? Why are we so determined to collapse our project of nation-building and social cohesion? We need to hold hands together between government and all state entities and the civil society and find solutions to what is happening,” Mapisa-Nqakula added.

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