South African authorities have arrested around 80 vigilante group members across five to six provinces for their alleged involvement in xenophobic attacks and criminal acts targeting foreign nationals.
The South African Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof Bobby Moroe, revealed the crackdown on Wednesday during the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Forum in Lagos, focused on “The Future of Nigeria-South Africa Relations: Advancing Bilateral Cooperation in a Changing World.”
While addressing claims that Pretoria was orchestrating hostilities against foreign residents, Moroe dismissed such reports as “fake news” and stressed that vigilantism does not reflect the values of the government or its citizens. Clarifying that constitutional protections extend to both regular and irregular migrants, he noted: “In South Africa, we have witnessed acts of criminality by vigilante groups calling for illegal migrants to return home and taking the law into their own hands. But let me be clear on behalf of my government that the South African Constitution protects both regular and irregular migrants.”
The envoy emphasised that immigration enforcement remains strictly within the domain of accredited law enforcement agencies and immigration officers. He added that the ongoing arrests demonstrate the state’s resolve to restore order and prosecute offenders, reaffirming that “the law is taking its due course.”
Moroe called for deepened bilateral cooperation between both nations while highlighting 32 years of unbroken diplomatic relations. He recalled Nigeria’s crucial backing during the anti-apartheid struggle, maintaining that historical solidarity should continue to guide ties despite occasional friction.