Just when we thought that the regime of apartheid and
everything that bears its similitude was gone, xenophobia seems to be the
growing attitudes by South Africans against foreigners especially Nigerians:
As a reaction to discrimination, South African women married
to Nigerians have threatened to stage a mass protest in Johannesburg.
Mrs. Lindelwa Uche, Chairperperson of the United Nigerian
Wives in South Africa (UNWISA) was quoted as saying: “...We decided to come
together to fight against stigmatization, discrimination, and humiliation,
against our families by government departments and agency and the officials of
the government, the community and our-in-laws.
(more after the cut)
“If we don’t stand up
for our children when they are being called derogatory names like “Small lee
kwere-kwere” or turning their natives names upside down deliberately by our
community in the name of making them feel like aliens, outcast, and unwelcome,
or even when their Nigerian aunties and uncles call them bustards, then their
future is in jeopardy.
“If we don’t stand up when our countrymen and women, officials
and in-law address us as paper wives, gold diggers, stupid and opportunist, who
will do that for us, ” Uche queried.
She added; “After the
official launch of our association, our next action will be more than just a
protest march to the city of Johannesburg home affairs office. It is going to
be a protest where we will strip on the street of Johannesburg, so that people
and government will know that there is an existing body and that we are not
happy with the way our non South Africans husband and children are being
treated."
So, Nigerians are
being discriminated against in neighbouring South Africa? It is simply
appalling!
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