Xenophobic attacks: let’s exercise more caution

Xenophobic attacks are not new globally, as they have reared their ugly heads in many parts of the world, including Ghana.

These attacks, which are targeted at foreigners, have always brought destruction and often death in their wake.

That is why those attacks must be frowned upon and discouraged totally wherever and whenever they occur.

Indeed, what is currently happening in South Africa is most worrying and the earlier efforts are made to nip it in the bud, the better for a peaceful global community.

The great Nelson Mandela, who once said: "I dream of an Africa that is at peace with itself," should be turning in his grave with what is happening in his country.

Developments in his beloved South Africa appear to have taken a nosedive and the goodness and forgiveness which he preached have been discarded.

For the umpteenth time, xenophobic attacks have reared their ugly heads in South Africa, with at least five people already reported dead.

For the past six days, rioting citizens of Johannesburg, Pretoria and other parts of the country have been attacking citizens of other African countries, looting shops and setting cars on fire, accusing the foreigners of taking over jobs meant for South Africans.

From all indications, unless the security situation is brought under control, the days ahead could witness more dastardly acts.

Since 2006, such attacks have been happening each year, with the 2008 attacks, which resulted in more than 60 people killed across the country and thousands displaced, being the most serious.

As one of Africa's biggest economies, South Africa has, since the end of the apartheid era, become an attraction for migrants from other parts of Africa.

An estimated 3.6 million migrants, mostly from sister African countries, live in that country.

We are happy that Ghana's High Commission in South Africa has already taken steps to ensure that Ghanaians living in that country are safe. However, the claim by the High Commissioner, Mr George Ayisi-Boateng, that not all Ghanaians living in

South Africa had registered with the High Commission would hamper attempts to protect Ghanaians in that country who are not known to the Ghana Mission.

Although there have been no reports of Ghanaians being injured or killed in the violence, we urge all Ghanaians living in South Africa to register with the Ghana High Commission there, so they can be attended to in any eventuality.

The Daily Graphic urges the government to take the events in South Africa seriously and continue to monitor developments there to ensure that no Ghanaian is harmed.

We find it refreshing that the South African government appears not to be enthused with what is going on in that country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has led the charge in condemning the attacks, stating in a Twitter post that "there can be no justification for any South African to attack people from other countries".

Already, the attacks have sparked fierce reaction in Nigeria, as media reports speak of hordes of Nigerian youth looting South African-owned shops in Nigeria.

The Daily Graphic believes that the development could lead not only to a diplomatic row between South Africa and those African countries whose citizens are being attacked but also cause irreparable damage to good neighbourliness and intra-African trade and also destroy global peace.

At a time when Africa is pursuing an integration agenda, the situation in South Africa and its ripple effects in other countries do not give good signs and something drastic must be done by all countries in Africa and globally to save the situation and find a lasting solution to the recurring attacks.