The president of South Africa’s Inizwe Nathi Party, Thabile Sibeko, has accused Nigerians of contributing to the country’s drug problem, claiming their activities have left many South African youths addicted to narcotics and living on the streets.
Speaking during an interview with News Central TV amid the ongoing repatriation of Nigerians following xenophobic attacks, Sibeko alleged that Nigerians were responsible for the spread of drugs in South African communities, a situation she said had fueled deep resentment among locals.
“We want to encourage them when they go to other countries, they must take care of other countries. We got zombies in our children on the streets because of them. That has cut deep into our hearts and that has made us resent them with all that we have. We hope that they take a safe journey. Next time they come, they will know South Africans love their people and country,” she said.
Sibeko made the remarks while bidding farewell to hundreds of Nigerians being evacuated from South Africa. According to her, criminal activities allegedly linked to some Nigerian nationals, particularly drug trafficking, have strained relations between South Africans and the migrant community.
The politician also claimed that Nigerians were viewed more negatively than migrants from other countries, whom she praised for integrating into local communities and respecting South African values.
“To others, we say thank you for being here, especially those who took care of our country but Nigerians, particularly, it is because of their behaviour and the evil that which they have done in our country. They have killed our children with drugs and that is the reason we are so strong on Nigeria because of their behaviour.
“Others are better, they live among our people, in our community, they take care of our things and are not as horrible as Nigeria is. Nigeria is horrible, these people are horrible,” she added.
Her comments come as the Nigerian government intensifies efforts to evacuate citizens from South Africa following a resurgence of xenophobic attacks against African migrants. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, confirmed that hundreds of Nigerians were being airlifted back home as part of the evacuation exercise.
The latest developments have once again drawn attention to longstanding tensions surrounding migration, crime allegations, and xenophobia in South Africa, where Nigerian nationals have frequently been at the centre of public and political debate.
