This archive report was first published on 13 September 2019.
On September 10, 2019, South African Police Minister Bheki Cele addressed the press, revealing that 12 individuals had lost their lives in the recent xenophobic attacks. He cautioned that the death toll could rise as investigations continued.
Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula clarified that only 2 foreigners were among the 12 people who died. This information was shared at a press conference attended by the justice and security cluster ministers in Parliament.
Rapper Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, popularly known as AKA, responded to the statement, expressing his disappointment with the situation. He condemned the killings and urged Africans to put the past behind and focus on rebuilding relationships as a continent.
“Now that we know it’s mostly South Africans who died in the past two weeks of violence... it’s almost like its okay. We have a disgusting problem with our own self-confidence and with violence. What a mess.
“How’s about we put all this nonsense behind us and come together as AFRICANS once and for all huh?” He tweeted.
Following the attacks, Nigerians living in South Africa were repatriated back home. A privately owned Nigerian airline, Air Peace, volunteered to fly over 600 individuals back to Nigeria. According to Aljazeera, close to 1000 foreign-owned businesses were destroyed in the melee.
