A campaign has been launched on Twitter by its users with the hashtag ‘XenophobicAttack’, calling the attacks on some Africans in South Africa as shameful.
South African police on Monday arrested dozens of people following widespread looting and protests in the transport industry linked to a wave of anti-foreigner sentiment.
A report by the standardmedia.co.ke states that the unrest started on Sunday when an old building in the Johannesburg's Central Business District (CBD) caught fire and collapsed, killing at least three people.
It then spread to two eastern suburbs and to the capital Pretoria, where local media reported shops burning in the Marabastad - a central business area largely populated by economic migrants.
A video which has since gone viral captures the rioters targetting businesses of foreigners - mostly Nigerians and Zambians.
The Nigerian and Zambian governments have since issued statements condemning the incidents and cautioning their citizens.
Nigeria’s foreign minister is on record as saying South Africa had failed to protect Nigerian businesses whiles Zambia has instructed bus companies and drivers to step down all travel to South Africa till further notice.
Here are some reactions from Celebrities:
Here are some reactions from Twitter users:
#XenophobicAttacks should be an state of emergency....They torched a #Nigerian dealership in #JoburgCBD ??????????????? #Xenophobia #SouthAfrica #looting #Pretoria #africa pic.twitter.com/INtIQNRVnp
— Mwiinga Twiinga (Uppity) ???????? (@Thearchct) September 2, 2019
Good evening South Africa. Stop murdering fellow African. Violence is not the way! "Through violence you may murder the hater, but you cannot murder hate."~ Martin Luther King Jr. #XenophobicAttacks #PretoriaCBD
— Thuo Kimani Githuku (@thuogithuku) September 2, 2019
Nelson Mandela Just Wasted His Life For This People.
— M For Mish (@TheFehintolu) September 2, 2019
SA Is A Shit Country With Trash And Murderers As Citizens.#XenophobicAttacks
#XenophobicAttacks should be an state of emergency....They torched a #Nigerian dealership in #JoburgCBD ??????????????? #Xenophobia #SouthAfrica #looting #Pretoria #africa pic.twitter.com/INtIQNRVnp
— Mwiinga Twiinga (Uppity) ???????? (@Thearchct) September 2, 2019
I think #EnoughIsEnough. The Nigerian Government ???????? really needs to TAKE ACTION NOW on the #XenophobicAttacks in South Africa ????????. We helped them during Apatheid. See how they are treating us and other foreigners in their country ????#Xenophobia #SouthAfrica #PretoriaCBD #BBNaiija
— Seye Oyekunle (@seye_oyekunle) September 3, 2019
With these #XenophobicAttacks, I am never going to South Africa except as a diplomat
— Oke Umurhohwo (@OkeStalyf) September 2, 2019
We spent billions of dollars to finance most of the leaders of the ANC in their struggle and they can't even protect Africans in the same SA where they were mauled like dogs under apartheid?
#Twitter has always been a platform where i make myself happy and laugh...but tonight seeing this #XenophobicAttacks again
— LAST BORN of saka family (@_oluwaDREY) September 3, 2019
My heart is so down,my eyes filled with tears!...
I just can't believe it...
This is so sad
Nelson Mandela Just Wasted His Life For This People.
— M For Mish (@TheFehintolu) September 2, 2019
SA Is A Shit Country With Trash And Murderers As Citizens.#XenophobicAttacks
