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'They started throwing stones at my car,' Kenyans in Johannesburg speak out

N

Nyakundi Report

Newsroom 2 min read

This archive report was first published on 4 September 2019.

Published on September 4, 2019, a section of Kenyans living in South Africa have expressed fear after the recent spate of xenophobic attacks on foreigners.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Simeon, who works at Gandhi square in Johannesburg, revealed that he was the only one who showed up at the office on Wednesday.

"Looks like most people stayed home… Most shops are also closed for fear of attacks and looting," he said.

While some looted, torched or stole cars, others broke into shops reportedly owned by foreigners.

South African authorities said five people have been killed in the attacks that have since been condemned by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Joe, who lives in Gauteng, narrated to Citizen Digital how he escaped death narrowly on Tuesday evening.

He has lived in Johannesburg for 8 years and was driving home through a town adjacent to Pretoria, when vehicles moving in the opposite direction started headlight flashing.

Several South Africans have since condemned the attacks with some using social media to express their disapproval.

"You are seen sending CVs to big corporations from foreigners because they give you high salaries, car allowance and medical aid… So all those people must leave your country so that you remain only South Africans without matrix, businesses, without money? Chasing away people that are making sure you can feed your families!" one South African woman said in a video seen on WhatsApp.

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