Migrants arm themselves ahead of S. African marches

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Some foreign nationals in South Africa, alarmed by Friday’s planned anti-immigrant marches in Pretoria, have told Anadolu Agency they have armed themselves and will hit back if attacked.

“We have mobilized ourselves. [We have] bought pipes and sticks, ready to defend ourselves,” one Nigerian national said on condition of anonymity.

He said his auto-mobile workshop was set ablaze during 2015’s anti-immigrant violence which also claimed seven lives across the country.

“We still trust the police but they usually take long to arrive, so we decided to arm ourselves,” a Tanzanian shopkeeper, Omari Musa, told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.

He said his group will patrol around their shops and homes to ensure they are safe from any marauding mobs.

A group opposed to high immigration in South Africa will march in Pretoria on Friday. Protest organizer, Makgoka Lekganyane, has said his group’s concern is high unemployment despite the government allowing many foreigners to settle in South Africa.

Marc Gabbafou, chairman of migrant group, African Diaspora Forum (ADF), warned migrants against arming themselves.

“We call for calm from migrants. We urge you to refrain from retaliating,” he told Anadolu Agency.

South Africa has witnessed a number of violent anti-immigrant incidents this month, with local communities burning homes belonging to some foreigners in Johannesburg and Pretoria, accusing them of committing crime.

Over 20 migrant-owned shops were also looted in Pretoria this week.

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba told reporters on Thursday the police was on high alert to contain any anti-immigrant violence.

“Our desire is to ensure the violence does not spread to other areas,” he said in a televised briefing.

The minister denied his country was xenophobic, saying it is among the most diverse in the world hosting many nationalities.