Two Nigerians killed as South Africans attack foreign nationals over drugs

Photo: Another Nigerian, Nicholas, in hospital battling for life

By Peter Ejiofor
Following the killing of two Nigerians as South Africans attacked foreign nationals on Friday, the Nigeria community has renewed its call on the South African and Nigerian governments to stop extra-judicial killings in that country.

The Nigerian community, under the aegis of Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), said on Saturday in a statement from Pretoria, that two of its members were killed in Vereeniging, near Johannesburg, South Africa, by members of the community at a Taxi Rank.

The statement signed by NUSA President, Mr Collins Mgbo, said the people had alleged the foreigners were involved in drug dealing.

“Nigeria Union condemns unequivocally any form of criminal activity by Nigerians in South Africa but calls on the government of South Africa and Nigerian governments, especially the Consul General to intervene in the matter.

“We do not condone crime but justice must be served by the court of law should anyone be found guilty of any criminal act,’’ Mgbo said.

He noted that for many, Vereeniging had become one of the most dangerous and unsafe places in the Vaal Triangle as it has become notorious for drug dealing and robbery.

“For years, the community has been crying on deaf ears about foreign nationals flooding the area and selling drugs.

“Yesterday, Vereeniging came to a standstill as taxi drivers closed Voortrekker and allegedly took matters in their own hands by attacking foreign nationals believed to be drug dealers and beating two of them to death,’’ he said.

Mgbo said that when the union contacted the police, Sergeant Nombulelo Mohlakwana, confirmed the two deaths.

“When police officers arrived at the Vereeniging taxi rank, we found a Nigerian citizen dead and two males badly assaulted. The two were transferred to Kopanong hospital where one of them later passed on.

“We have no proof that it is taxi drivers who did that, but it happened at Vereeniging taxi rank,’’ he quoted the Mohlakwana as saying.

He added that the police officer informed the union that the police were investigating the case and urged anyone with information to contact the police.

Mgbo said that in a related development on that Friday, a Nigerian citizen, identified as Nicholas, was attacked by a South African gang for allegedly buying a stolen laptop.

He was beaten alongside his friends who they believed was an accomplice, while the South African criminal who stole the laptop and sold to Nicholas was left unharmed.

The NUSA president said Nicholas was now battling for his life in the Intensive Care Unit at Kimberly Hospital.

He explained that Nicholas had bought a stolen laptop from another South African, so, the owner of the laptop apprehended the South African who stole the laptop and he took them to the Nigerian who bought it.

The Nigerian who bought it had sold it apparently to another Nigerian. They asked him to call the Nigerian he sold it to and he did, but when he arrived, he told them that he didn’t have the laptop anymore but agreed to pay them for it.

The owner of the laptop agreed but the owner came with a group which wanted to rob him of his phones and he refused, and that’s when they beat him to comatose state where he was left to die.
Other Nigerians at the scene called an ambulance and took him to the hospital but they were informed by the medical doctor at the hospital that his brain was damaged and he might not make it.