The Nigerian Citizens’ Association in South Africa has urged the South African government to assuage the sufferings of some Nigerians who suffered losses as a result of the arson against foreigners during the xhenophobic attacks.
The President General of NICASA, Mr Benjamin Okoli, spoke in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, on Friday, against the backdrop of meetings held between South African authorities, the Nigeria Consul General and the NICASA executive members.
Okoli said that although the South African government had been pro-active in restoring normalcy after the crisis in the country, it should do more to assist victims of the attacks.
According to him, nothing has been done so far to alleviate the plight of victims of the last coordinated looting and attacks by arsonist on foreigners, by arsonists.
Okoli said, “Despite assurances and a pledge by the South African government, none of the Nigerian victims has received any kind of succour.
“NICASA has submitted a report and information on losses suffered by our nationals who were affected by the menace to both the Nigerian Consulate and High Commission.
“We hope that something would be done quickly to arrest the desperate situation our people are facing. Just yesterday, one of the victims of that attack was at the Consulate begging to be repatriated to Nigeria to his family.
“He was locked out of his house for owing two-months rent; his only means of livelihood was destroyed during the attack and those of many Nigerians who are now despondent, from the looting and destruction of their means of livelihood.
“We continue to appeal to the South African government to live up to its promise, to alleviate the sufferings of our people and those others who suffered losses.”
According to him, a meeting held at Nelspruit and Mpumalanga Province with the Consul General and Mpumalanga Provincial Police Commissioner on the efforts to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians in the town and province.
