Nigerians, other foreign nationals get 12 hours to leave South African Province

Nigerians and other foreign nationals resident South Africa’s
Keimoes and Upington areas of Northern Cape Province were on
Thursday morning given 12 hours to vacate by the indigenes.

The President of Nigeria Union in South Africa, Adetola Olubajo,
made the disclosure in a statement made available to the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

Mr Olubajo said the development was as a result of an ugly
incident that took place on Wednesday between a police officer and
a Nigerian.

He said that the Nigerian man, an indigene of Abakaliki in
Ebonyi State, allegedly stabbed to death the police officer, Nico
Visagie, during a disagreement at 5 a.m.

Mr Olubajo said the details of the disagreement were still not
very clear as the major witness was also stabbed multiple times and
was still in critical condition at the hospital.

“After the horrific incident, the community members of Keimoes
and environs went on rampage burning and destroying properties
belonging to foreign nationals, Nigerians in particular.

“These attacks spread to Upington and Nigerians and other
foreign nationals were also expelled from Upington.

“Prompt Police intervention this morning brought about calm but
the situation is still tensed. Some locals were arrested by the
police for public disturbance and malicious damage to
properties.

“They appeared in a magistrates’ court this morning for bail
hearing,’’ he said.

He added that the suspect who stabbed the police officer had
been arrested and would appear in court on or before next
Monday.

“We commend the swift intervention of the members of the South
African Police Service (SAPS) and the arrest of the suspect is a
welcome development.

“We hope the police will continue to maintain law and order in
the area,’’ Mr Olubajo said.

Keimoes is a town in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.
It lies on the Orange River and is about halfway between Upington
and Kakamas.

(NAN)

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