SA Government Should Arrest Those Behind Attacks – NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the South African government to arrest the people behind the attacks on Nigerians.

According to Vanguard, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba said refugees and asylum seekes should be welcome anywhere around the world.

Wabba also condemned the Mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba for allegedly blaming foreigners for the high rate of crime.

He said “When he was widely quoted as blaming foreigners for crimes and asking them to leave the city.

We consider the Mayor’s comment as careless, uncharitable and combustive. “Xenophobes find comment such as this as inspiration, especially as it is coming from high and official quarters. We expect that public officials should know better and act wiser.”

“The Nigeria Labour Congress affirms that the recent February 2017 xenophobic attack like previous ones in 2008 and 2015 is yet another unacceptable and avoidable development. “We totally condemn it and call on the South African Government to move without further delay to take actions to prevent another occurrence.

“It is unacceptable that foreigners, migrants, refugees and Asylum Seekers are labeled criminals as a justification to subject them to extra-judicial actions.

“NLC considers the South Africa Government’s condemnation of this recent xenophobic attack as a positive action.

“We, however, call on the government to go beyond condemnation to investigate, prosecute and sanction persons, groups or individuals that might have played any role in this mindless attack on foreigners,” Wabba added.

Former Olusegun Obasanjo recently condemned the xenophobic attacks against immigrants in South Africa, blaming the South African leadership under President Jacob Zuma.