society
We Are Not the Enemy: A Letter to South Africa from One African to Another. By George Omagbemi Sylvester
We Are Not the Enemy: A Letter to South Africa from One African to Another.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
There is a storm brewing on the southern tip of our beloved continent; one not caused by nature, but by man. In township corners, across social media reels and in political podiums draped in national flags, an uncomfortable message continues to echo: “Operation Dudula, Foreigners must go.”
Let’s ask the question the cowards will not: who really are the enemies of South Africa? Is it the foreign national who sells tomatoes on the street, or the political elite sipping imported wine while corruption ruins the soul of the nation?
In a recent viral Instagram reel, yet another South African citizen laments the presence of foreign nationals, blaming them for unemployment, rising crime and economic stagnation. The message is emotionally charged and undoubtedly reflects the frustration of the average citizen who feels abandoned, beneath this fiery rhetoric lies a dangerous illusion: that foreign nationals (especially African migrants) are the root cause of South Africa’s problems.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Real Source of the Pain. Let’s be honest: the pain South Africans feel is real. Youth unemployment is above 60%. Basic services often fail. Corruption, crime, and poverty are rampant. But who created these problems? Foreigners?
No.
It was the politicians who promised “a better life for all” and then built palaces for themselves. It was the corporate barons who loot pension funds. It was the system that failed to reform after apartheid ended—a system that now feeds on division to hide its incompetence.
Instead of holding the powerful accountable, the people are being told to look sideways; to blame Zimbabweans, Nigerians, Congolese, Somalis and Mozambicans. This is not just sad; it is intellectually dishonest and morally dangerous.
Divide and Rule: The Old Colonial Tactic. Repackaged, Let us not forget: the first Europeans to colonize Africa didn’t do so with armies alone, they did so by dividing us. Zulu vs Xhosa. Igbo vs Yoruba. South African vs Nigerian. They turned brothers into rivals.
Now in 2025, that same method is being repackaged. South African politicians (especially populists like Gayton McKenzie and others like him) use foreign nationals as scapegoats. They say “they take our jobs”, “they commit crimes”, “they’re illegal.”
Ask any honest economist and they’ll tell you that most foreign nationals in South Africa CREATE their own jobs. They run salons, spaza shops, taxi services, catering businesses, tailoring shops. They hustle, just like the average South African. They are not stealing jobs. They are surviving.
The Cost of Xenophobia. Xenophobia does not just hurt the foreigner, it stains South Africa’s soul.
In 2008, 2015, 2019 and again in recent years, we saw the brutal scenes: machetes drawn, businesses looted, people burned alive. These are not just headlines. They are human tragedies.
What did South Africa gain from these attacks? Did the economy improve? Did unemployment drop? Were the hospitals suddenly functional?
No.
All that happened was blood in the streets and shame on the continent.
According to a 2023 UNHCR report, more than 140,000 African migrants in South Africa live in fear of physical attacks. Children don’t go to school. Families sleep with one eye open. And for what?
To distract the people from the true cause of their suffering: failed governance.
The Pan-African Dream Is Dying. Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Nelson Mandela and Thomas Sankara all dreamed of a united Africa; an Africa without borders, without hatred, without tribal or national division. Today, that dream is being poisoned.
When South Africans attack Nigerians, Zimbabweans or Somalians, they are not protecting their country; they are burning down the very bridges we need to build the Africa we deserve.
Africa will never rise if we continue to fight ourselves. No nation can isolate itself into prosperity. We either grow together, or we collapse together.
Who Are the Real Criminals?
Let us talk about crime.
Yes, there are criminals among foreign nationals; just as there are criminals among South Africans, but every society has both SAINTS and SINNERS. You don’t condemn an entire nationality because of a few bad actors. That’s not justice; that’s prejudice.
Let’s talk facts.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), more than 85% of all arrests and convictions are South African nationals. Foreign nationals make up a very small percentage of actual criminals and even smaller when you factor in economic contribution.
Now let’s talk about white-collar crime. The biggest scandals in South Africa’s history ( Eskom looting, Gupta state capture, Steinhoff fraud, VBS bank collapse) were all masterminded by South Africans. Not a single foreigner was needed to pull off those billion-rand crimes.
So, again, who are the real criminals?
The Contribution of Foreign Nationals
Foreign nationals bring more than just their sweat and skills; they bring their cultures, their flavors, their music, their resilience. Nigerian doctors in Limpopo save lives every day. Zimbabwean teachers educate children in Eastern Cape. Somali traders bring goods to rural areas where no one else wants to go.
According to a 2022 report by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), foreign-owned businesses in South Africa contribute nearly R20 billion annually to the informal economy. That is not THEFT. That is VALUE.
Yet, many of them live under threat; discriminated against, demonized and harassed by both citizens and police.
A Message to South Africans. Brothers and sisters, I say this not with bitterness, but with love: WE ARE NOT YOUR ENEMIES.
We come here not to conquer but to contribute. We run from war, hunger and collapsed governments to places like South Africa because we believe in its promise. We believe in ubuntu; that African spirit that says “I AM BECAUSE WE ARE.”
Let us not allow fear and propaganda to destroy that spirit.
The solution to your suffering lies in BETTER GOVERNANCE, FAIRER ECONOMIC POLICY and YOUTH EMPOWERMENT; not in burning down a Somali-owned shop or blaming a Nigerian Uber driver.
A Message to African Leaders. We foreign nationals are not just victims; we are also failed by our own governments. Why do so many Africans risk their lives to flee to South Africa? Home has failed us.
So this is also a call to our own leaders; Nigerian, Zimbabwean, Congolese, Ethiopian: fix your countries. Stop looting. Stop silencing opposition. Stop selling out to foreign powers. Your failure forces your citizens to flee. And that exodus becomes fuel for xenophobia abroad.
Finally: Africa is bleeding from within. The hate we show each other only deepens the wounds left by colonialism and corruption.
South Africa, you are a giant (but even giants can fall) especially when they forget their brothers.
We must reject the politics of DIVISION and embrace the vision of UNITY. The future of Africa does not lie in border posts or deportation vans. It lies in the hands of young Africans, working together, respecting one another and rebuilding this continent from the ground up.
Let us rise; not as South Africans or Nigerians or Zimbabweans; but as Africans, together.
Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester
Pan-African writer, political commentator, and human rights advocate
Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Alleged Manipulation of Defilement Case Sparks Call for Review of Legal Advice in Lagos
By Ifeoma Ikem
A legal controversy has emerged in Lagos following a petition seeking a review of a legal advice issued in a case involving two female teachers accused of negligence in a child injury incident at a nursery school in Ikorodu.
The petition, submitted by Crown Cannan Attorneys, urges the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to reconsider the legal advice issued on September 16, 2022, in the case titled Commissioner of Police vs. Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba and Rukayat Lawal.
Addressed to the former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, the application argues that the legal advice may have been influenced by what the petition describes as a “deliberate manipulation of facts.”
According to counsel representing the defendants, the allegations stem from an incident that allegedly occurred on October 26, 2021, at Great Kezino Nursery and Primary School located in the Adamo area of Ikorodu, Lagos.
The defendants, Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba, 26, and Rukayat Lawal, 24, were reportedly the class teacher and assistant class teacher respectively in charge of a Nursery One class where the incident occurred.
Court documents indicate that a three-year-old pupil, identified as Victim A, was reportedly injured after another pupil allegedly pierced a pencil into her private part during school hours.
The prosecution claims the incident occurred due to the failure of the teachers to exercise adequate care and supervision over the children under their custody.
Based on this allegation, the two educators were charged with negligence under Section 252 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which addresses acts that may cause harm through lack of proper care.
The defendants were subsequently arraigned before Magistrate Court No. 2 in Ikeja on April 19, 2022, where they faced a one-count charge relating to the incident.
During the investigation conducted at the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja, several civil society groups reportedly monitored the proceedings.
Among them were representatives of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) and other non-governmental organizations.
These groups reportedly raised concerns about what they described as a growing tendency to weaponise allegations of child abuse in ways that could unfairly damage reputations and careers.
In its petition, the defence team argued that the case deserves a fresh review to ensure that justice is served based on verified facts rather than assumptions or public pressure.
They urged the Ministry of Justice to carefully reassess the legal advice and the circumstances surrounding the investigation to determine whether the prosecution should proceed as currently framed.
Legal observers say the outcome of the requested review could determine the next stage of the case and may also highlight broader concerns about investigative procedures and child protection cases within the justice system.
Reacting to a viral social media post by Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba, who claimed she might be jailed for defilement, the head teacher of Great Kezino Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Edaolaropin Toyin, provided the school’s account of events.
According to her, the pupil identified as Victim A was enrolled in the Nursery One class on September 20, 2021, which had about 15 pupils.
She explained that on October 26, 2021, the pupil was transported home on the school bus after closing hours and handed over to her father around 4:30 p.m.
“Later that night, the pupil’s mother allegedly contacted the head teacher, claiming her daughter cried while bathing and alleged that a male classmate, Victim B, had inserted a pencil into her private part during school hours,” she said.
The school, however, rejected the allegation, maintaining that no such incident occurred while the child was in its custody.
“The following morning, the teacher visited the pupil’s home, where the father reportedly denied the mother’s account of the incident,” Toyin added.
She said the situation escalated later that day when the child’s parents arrived at the school with police officers from Imota Police Station demanding that the alleged male classmate be produced.
The head teacher further stated that the school management had supported Tobiloba throughout the legal process.
“Since the incident happened, the school management has never stopped supporting Tobiloba’s welfare until last year when she sent a WhatsApp message saying she was no longer interested in the court matter, claiming she had relocated to Ibadan,” she said.
She described the claims currently circulating on social media as “defamatory narratives.”
*GEN CG MUSA SUPPORT INITIATIVE MOURNS FALLEN HEROES AND URGES UNITY IN SECURITY SUPPORT
The Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa Support Initiative (GCGMSI) expresses its heartfelt condolences to His Excellency Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Grand Patron of the Initiative, and the families of the fallen heroes who courageously lost their lives in a recent attack by ISWAP in Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Dalori in Borno State, northeast Nigeria. Among the tragic losses were three senior military commanders: Major U.I. Mairiga, Lt-Col Umar Faruq, and Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, who dedicated their lives to the service of our nation.
The GCGMSI implores the public to continue supporting our security agencies, emphasizing that the safety and security of our nation is a collective responsibility. Every day, our security forces pay the ultimate price to safeguard our country. We urge the public to remain supportive, pray for their success, and refrain from politicizing the security challenges we face.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Convener, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani Sadaukin Garkuwan Keffi/Betara Biu, which has been made available to the press. The statement highlights the initiative’s profound concern for the losses sustained by our security personnel and reflects on the broader security situation in Nigeria.
In his unwavering commitment to addressing the insecurity plaguing our nation, the Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa, has consistently engaged in urgent meetings with service chiefs, reinforcing strategic plans to combat threats and enhance national security. His leadership and decisive actions demonstrate a dedication to restoring peace and stability across our regions, ensuring a safer environment for all Nigerians.
society
SECURITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: BACKING OUR MINISTER OF DEFENCE GEN. CHRISTOPHER GWABIN MUSA OFR
SECURITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: BACKING OUR MINISTER OF DEFENCE GEN. CHRISTOPHER GWABIN MUSA OFR
By Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani
In these challenging times, it is essential for all Nigerians to rally behind our leaders, particularly His Excellency Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, the Minister of Defence. The security of our nation is not a matter to be taken lightly or politicized. Gen. Musa, recognized for his unwavering dedication and sacrifice, has served our country commendably throughout his life.
Following the recent reshuffle of service chiefs by President Asiwaju Bola Ahamed Tinubu GCFR, which resulted in Gen. Musa’s retirement as Chief of Defence Staff, many voiced their concerns. Yet, upon his appointment as Minister of Defence, there was a renewed sense of hope among the populace. Gen. Musa has embraced his role with an unwavering commitment, often sacrificing his rest to ensure the safety and security of our great nation.
While it is undeniable that Nigeria faces security challenges, we must approach these issues with unity rather than division. It is crucial to recognize that those who politicize our national security are often those who have not contributed positively to the success of our security agencies. Instead of spreading negativity, we should support Gen. Musa in his mission to restore peace and stability.
To achieve our collective goal of a secure Nigeria, we must provide Gen. Musa with the trust he deserves. His vision and determination, paired with our support and prayers, can pave the way to overcoming the challenges we face. It’s time for every Nigerian to put aside political differences and work together for the common good. Let us have faith in our leaders and trust in Gen. Musa’s ability to steer our nation towards safety and security.
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