society
From Freedom Fighter to Xenophobic Tyrant: How South Africa Betrays Africa”
“From Freedom Fighter to Xenophobic Tyrant: How South Africa Betrays Africa”
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
In an age where Africa must rally around unity, economic collaboration, and cross-border development, it is both tragic and outrageous that a political leader in South Africa has emerged to champion a campaign that echoes the darkest ideologies of the past. Gayton McKenzie, the Mayor of Central Karoo and leader of the Patriotic Alliance, has become the face of xenophobic populism in South Africa. His “Abahambe” doctrine; which means “Let them leave” in Zulu meaning is not just a rallying cry; it is a ticking time bomb threatening the very fabric of African brotherhood.
By targeting African migrants, particularly Nigerians and Zimbabweans, McKenzie is doing more than playing politics. He is weaponizing fear, scapegoating economic migrants who, contrary to his claims, often create their own jobs, employ others, and contribute to the local economy. This is not a movement of patriotism. It is a movement of prejudice, one that resembles, in language and tone, the early stages of fascist regimes.
Dangerous Rhetoric, Dangerous Consequences
History offers sobering lessons. Leaders who have failed to deliver prosperity often manufacture enemies. Adolf Hitler, in the 1930s, blamed Germany’s woes on Jews and used propaganda to dehumanize them. We all know where that road led.
McKenzie’s playbook is eerily similar. Rather than confront South Africa’s systemic failures and rampant corruption, deteriorating infrastructure, and chronic unemployment, he blames African migrants. This redirection of public anger is a cynical political strategy. It is easier to inflame crowds than to fix roads, hospitals, or schools. But such strategies come with deadly consequences.
This is no longer just a political platform. It is incitement. His speeches have inspired violence: shops looted, homes burnt, and lives lost. These are not isolated incidents they are the direct results of a narrative that paints migrants as enemies, not neighbors.
African Migrants: Job Creators, Not Job Thieves
Contrary to McKenzie’s inflammatory claims, the overwhelming majority of African migrants in South Africa are self-employed. They run salons, corner shops, logistics companies, restaurants, and even tech startups. They work tirelessly, not because South Africa gave them jobs, but because they were forced by circumstances to create their own. They compete not for state resources, but for survival.
Studies by the Human Sciences Research Council and other institutions have repeatedly shown that immigrants are more likely to be entrepreneurs than locals; a fact also observed across Europe and the United States. In inner cities across Johannesburg and Cape Town, it is often foreign-owned businesses that provide services and employment in neglected areas.
So when McKenzie screams “Abahambe,” he is not just targeting undocumented migrants. He is threatening people who pay rent, taxes, school fees — and employ South Africans too.
Nigeria’s Historic Role: A Debt South Africa Must Honor
That Nigerians are a central target of this campaign is not only unjust; it is profoundly insulting. Nigeria was one of the fiercest opponents of apartheid. From 1960 to 1994, the country invested billions in today’s value, over $60 billion in supporting South Africa’s liberation. The Nigerian government funded the African National Congress (ANC), hosted its exiles, trained its soldiers, and spearheaded global sanctions against the apartheid regime.
Nigerians paid a “Mandela Tax” to fund the anti-apartheid movement. They were barred from international events, ostracized diplomatically, and made enormous economic sacrifices, all in the name of African freedom.
As Desmond Tutu once said, “We are because you are. Our liberation was your victory too.”
To now see Nigerians vilified in South Africa is to watch the knife twist in a wound still healing from the scars of colonialism and racial segregation.
South African Businesses Thrive in Nigeria
While McKenzie accuses foreigners of exploitation, the economic relationship between Nigeria and South Africa tells a different story. South African companies have thrived in Nigeria without facing the kind of hatred that migrants now endure in South Africa.
MTN Nigeria—the crown jewel of the MTN Group contributes more than a third of the group’s global profit. Shoprite, DSTV (Multichoice), Stanbic IBTC, and others have enjoyed a warm reception in Nigeria. They’ve grown into household names, making millions in a competitive but welcoming market.
Would McKenzie prefer these companies to be driven out of Nigeria in retaliation? Can he account for the jobs that would be lost both in Nigeria and South Africa if this economic partnership collapses?
In diplomacy, as in economics, respect must be mutual.
A Threat to Pan-African Progress
McKenzie’s divisive politics do not only endanger MIGRANTS, they threaten the very soul of Africa. At a time when the African Union is pushing for deeper integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), when regional blocks are forming to combat poverty, disease, and terrorism, McKenzie’s ideology is a setback. It is a rejection of unity in favor of isolation. It is a throwback to the colonial mindset of “divide and rule.”
The real enemies of South Africa are not the foreign-born Africans struggling to make ends meet. The enemies are inequality, corruption, misgovernance, and disinvestment. No Nigerian or Zimbabwean created Eskom’s energy crisis. No Ethiopian migrant siphoned billions through state capture. The problems are internal. The solutions, too, must be.
Voices of Reason Must Rise
As former Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah famously said, “The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than the superimposed influences that keep us apart.” Those words ring true now more than ever. Africa needs leaders who speak of unity, who understand the value of cooperation not populists who exploit pain for power.
South African civil society, journalists, trade unions, and faith-based organizations must rise and reject McKenzie’s brand of hatred. Silence is complicity, and complicity is guilt. Xenophobia, if unchecked, will destroy not only the lives of migrants but also the moral standing of South Africa as a leader on the continent.
International organizations, too, must speak up. The African Union must investigate whether the “Abahambe” campaign amounts to incitement under international law. The United Nations should monitor the human rights situation in affected communities. Hate speech is not free speech especially when it costs lives.
A Future Worth Building Together
Africa’s youth; its greatest resource must understand that collaboration, not confrontation, is the key to prosperity. With a shared market of 1.3 billion people and untapped resources, the future is bright only if we work together. We must reject demagogues who preach division and embrace leaders who champion innovation, education, and entrepreneurship.
As Nelson Mandela once said, “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate. If they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.”
Let us teach that love now through policy, protest, and unity.
In conclusion: Africa’s Moral Test
Gayton McKenzie is not just a politician. He is a test; for South Africa’s democracy, for Africa’s unity, and for the conscience of every black person on the continent. If we allow his hate-filled rhetoric to spread unchecked, we risk not just more violence, but the unraveling of everything Africa has worked to build since independence.
But if we meet his hatred with courage, unity, and law, then we will have turned this dangerous chapter into a moment of reckoning. Let McKenzie’s campaign be remembered not as the movement that broke Africa, but as the spark that finally woke it up.
Africa must choose: hatred or hope, division or dignity.
Let us choose wisely.
Banwo Questions Omokri’s Conduct After Appointment As Ambassador
Political commentator and founder of the Naija Lives Matter Organisation (NLM), Dr. Ope Banwo, has raised concerns about the conduct expected of diplomats following the appointment of Reno Omokri as Nigeria’s ambassador to Mexico.
In an article published on his website, www.mayoroffadeyi.com, Banwo argued that individuals appointed to represent Nigeria abroad are expected to maintain a level of neutrality and decorum that reflects the country’s diplomatic traditions.
The article titled “The Strange Case of Reno Omokri,” questions whether the tone of public political engagement associated with Omokri’s social media presence aligns with the expectations of diplomatic service.
Omokri, a former presidential aide who has built a strong online following through commentary on Nigerian politics and governance, was recently appointed as Nigeria’s envoy to Mexico.
According to Banwo’s article, the role of an ambassador requires a transition from partisan political commentary to broader national representation.
“An ambassador represents the entire nation and not a political party,” Banwo wrote, noting that diplomats are traditionally expected to avoid public political confrontations that could affect international perceptions of their countries.
He contrasted the roles of political campaigners and diplomats, arguing that the two require different communication styles and responsibilities.
“Politics is combative while diplomacy is measured,” Banwo stated in the article, emphasizing that ambassadors typically engage in dialogue, negotiation and relationship-building rather than domestic political disputes.
Banwo also pointed to the historical composition of Nigeria’s diplomatic corps, which has largely included career diplomats trained in international relations and protocol.
According to him, such professionals are accustomed to maintaining restraint in public communication because their statements can carry official implications.
The article also referenced the biblical book of Ecclesiastes to illustrate the author’s broader reflections on leadership and public office.
Banwo noted that the appointment of political figures to diplomatic positions is not unusual globally but stressed that such appointments usually come with expectations of behavioural adjustments.
He urged Nigerian public officials who hold diplomatic positions to prioritise the country’s international image and approach public commentary with caution.
“Nigeria deserves ambassadors who elevate the country’s image,” he wrote.
How OPay Is Turning Product Architecture Into a Customer Service Advantage
In high-volume fintech markets like Nigeria, customer service can no longer sit at the end of the business process. When a platform serves tens of millions of users and processes millions of transactions every day, the old model of customer service, call centres, long queues, and manual complaint handling quickly becomes too slow, too costly, and challenging to scale.
The future of customer service in fintech is not just about answering calls faster. It is about preventing problems before they happen. This is where product design, technology, and risk systems begin to play a bigger role. Instead of reacting to customer complaints, modern fintech platforms are now building customer protection and support directly into the app experience itself.
OPay is one of the platforms showing how this shift works in practice.
Over the past few years, OPay’s product development has followed a clear pattern. New features are not only designed to make payments easier, but also to reduce errors, prevent fraud, and lower the number of issues that customers need to complain about. In simple terms, many customer service problems are stopped before users even notice them.
One of the strongest examples of this approach is OPay’s real-time fraud and scam alerts. Traditionally, customers only contact support after money has already left their account. At that point, the damage is done, emotions are high, and recovery becomes more complex. OPay’s system works differently. When a transaction looks unusual, based on amount, timing, behaviour, or pattern, the system raises a warning before the transfer is completed. This gives users a chance to pause, review, and confirm. In many cases, this stops fraud before it happens.
For users, this feels like protection built into the app, not an emergency response after a loss. For the business, it means fewer fraud cases, fewer complaints, and less pressure on customer support teams. This proactive model aligns with global fintech best practices, which prioritise prevention over recovery.
Another important layer is step-up security for high-risk or high-value transactions. As users move more money and rely more heavily on digital wallets, security cannot be one-size-fits-all. Adding too many checks to every transaction creates frustration. Adding too few creates risk. OPay balances this by applying stronger security only when it is needed. For example, biometric verification and additional authentication steps are triggered in sensitive situations. This keeps everyday transactions smooth, while adding extra protection when the risk is higher. This approach builds trust quietly. Users may not always notice the security working in the background, but they feel the result: fewer unauthorised transfers and fewer urgent problems that require support intervention.
Beyond visible features, OPay also runs behaviour-based risk systems in the background. These systems monitor patterns such as sudden device changes, unusual login behaviour, or transaction activity that does not match a user’s normal habits. When something looks off, the system responds automatically. Most users never see these checks. But their impact shows up in fewer failed transactions, fewer reversals, and fewer cases where customers need to chase resolutions. As a result, customer service interactions shift away from crisis handling toward simple guidance and assistance.
Together, these layers form what can be called an invisible customer service system. Many issues are intercepted early, long before they become formal complaints. User sentiment on social media provides real-world signals of how this system is being experienced. On X (formerly Twitter), some users have publicly shared their experiences with OPay’s responsiveness and reliability.
One user, @ifedayo_johnson, wrote, “Opay has refunded it almost immediately. Before I even made this tweet but I didn’t notice. logged it as transfer made in error on the Opay app and they acted almost immediately. Commendable. Thank you @OPay_NG. I’m very impressed with this!”
Another user, @EgbonAduugbo, shared “The reason I love opay so much is that you hardly ever have to worry, wait or call their customer service for anything cuz everything just works!”
While social media comments are not formal performance metrics, they matter. They reflect how real users feel when systems work smoothly and issues are resolved quickly, often without friction. This product-led customer service model becomes even more important when viewed in the context of OPay’s scale. At this scale, even minor improvements in fraud prevention or transaction success rates can prevent thousands of potential complaints every day. In this context, customer service is no longer driven mainly by headcount. It is driven by engineering choices, risk models, and system design.
OPay’s journey suggests what the future of fintech in Africa may look like. The next generation of leaders will not only be those with the most users, but those whose systems are designed to protect users, resolve issues quickly, and reduce friction at scale.
society
Phillips Esther Omolara : Answering The Call To Worship And Transforming Lives Through Gospel Music
Phillips Esther Omolara : Answering The Call To Worship And Transforming Lives Through Gospel Music
Introduction : Phillips Esther Omolara (Apple Of God’s Eye) is an Inspirational and passionate Nigerian gospel music minister, singer, and songwriter dedicated to spreading the message of Christ through her songs.
Background : I was born and brought up in Lagos State. I am a devoted gospel minister and a worship leader who began her musical journey in the children choir later graduated to adult church choir at a young age, leading praises and also a vocalist in the choir.
Early Life : I was born on April 8th 1990 in Lagos, Phillips Esther Omolara is a native of Oyo state in Ogbomosho.
Family : Got married to Phillips Oluwatomisin Omobolaji from Ogun State and our union was blessed with children.
Education : I went to Duro-oyedoyin nursery and primary school Ijeshatedo, Lagos, where I laid the foundation for my academic pursuits. For my secondary education, I attended Sanya Grammer school in Ijeshatedo, Lagos.
During my high school years, I was already deeply involved in church activities. After completing my secondary education, Phillips Esther pursed higher education at Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH).
Musical Style : Known for [e.g., Inspirational songs, Contemporary Worship, Highlife, Reggae, Traditional Yoruba], and my music blends spiritual depth with creative musicality.
INSPIRATIONS AND INFLUENCES : I have no specific role model in the gospel music industry. However, I have expressed my love for songs from several Veteran gospel artists who have influenced my musical journey.
Some of the gospel artists whose music i admires include:
* Mama Bola Are
* Tope Alabi
* Omije Ojumi
* Baba Ara
* Bulky Beks
Mission : My ministry focuses on leading people to the presence of God and creating an atmosphere for miracles.
-
society6 months agoReligion: Africa’s Oldest Weapon of Enslavement and the Forgotten Truth
-
news3 months agoWHO REALLY OWNS MONIEPOINT? The $290 Million Deal That Sold Nigeria’s Top Fintech to Foreign Interests
-
Business6 months agoGTCO increases GTBank’s Paid-Up Capital to ₦504 Billion
-
society6 months ago“You Are Never Without Help” – Pastor Gebhardt Berndt Inspires Hope Through Empower Church (Video)