South Africa’s Consul General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, confirmed that authorities have apprehended more than 80 individuals linked to recent episodes of violence against migrants. During a Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce event in Lagos, Moroe emphasized that investigations are ongoing and further arrests are anticipated.
Addressing concerns regarding the violence, Moroe stated that the South African government is committed to upholding the constitution, which guarantees protection for both citizens and foreign nationals. He noted that the state is focused on securing lives and property rather than political timing, dismissing claims that these incidents are linked to election cycles.
Meanwhile, the African Union Executive Council has rejected a proposal from Ghana to include the issue of xenophobic violence on the agenda for its upcoming October Summit. South African International Relations Minister, Ronald Lamola, successfully argued that the mid-year coordination meeting in Egypt is not the appropriate venue for such a broad topic. Instead, Pretoria has advocated for a dedicated continental conference on migration, citing previous AU decisions that have yet to be fulfilled.
