Xenophobia in Mzansi

My friends in South Africa are a generation below me in age. They are incredible credit to their nation and to the continent of Africa. I attach a video about their views on the much maligned Nigerians in their midst. It is against this backdrop a new kind of crime emerges that builds on Xenophobia. One of the speakers, my brother and partner Siphiwe Mpiye wrote an article on Xenophobia in Y magazine recently in which he bigs this correspondent. He never told me about it but others did and I am privileged to count him as my brother. All must watch out he represents a future for his people and the continent that is huge.

Back to crime another similar brother who could be Siphiwe's twin Tade another future leader if there ever was robbed at gun point as he arrived at his Johannesburg hotel from the airport. This is not an isolated case as many Nigerians are targeted for being from that country not simply because of their nationality but what it represents. Nigerians visit Mzansi from a country with a cash economy, they have to declare the amounts they are carrying and their destination in Mzansi. I have no doubt that some unscrupulous official is disclosing this to armed co-conspirators who trail their victims or even wait for them at their hotel. This is a crime that draws little sympathy because of stereotypes of Nigerian. For Tade a telecoms executive, father , husband to be attacked on this level leaves scars not just of lost money but total vulnerability in a country where he has no friends. This must change and change soon even though CNN will not carry it neither will NTA or SABC broadcast it the real loser in the end will be Mzansi and as Siphiwe says we cannot afford such loss.