This archive report was first published on 6 September 2019.
Published on September 6, 2019, a deadly week of anti-immigrant violence in South Africa has overshadowed the World Economic Forum summit in Cape Town.
The violence, which has resulted in at least seven deaths and hundreds of arrests, has exposed dormant tensions between South Africa and Nigeria, the continent's two largest economies.
South Africa's government acknowledged that prejudice was a factor in the deadly rioting, which has targeted foreign businesses.
President Cyril Ramaphosa had hoped the summit would showcase his efforts to revive South Africa's ailing economy and boost intra-African trade.
However, the violence has dominated proceedings, with the highest-profile absentee being Ramaphosa himself, who cancelled his appearance at the WEF plenary session to address a crowd protesting against violence against women.
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said most South Africans disapproved of attacks on foreigners and emphasized the importance of freedom of movement for the continent's citizens.
Meanwhile, in eSwatini, the National Agricultural Marketing Board has kept trucks carrying farm produce from crossing the border into South Africa due to safety concerns.
