Cape Town - South Africa closed its embassy in Nigeria's
commercial capital Lagos after a spate of attacks on South African
businesses in response to anti-foreigner violence in South Africa,
the government said Thursday.
The embassy temporarily closed out of concern for the safety of its
staff, said foreign affairs spokesman Lunga Ngqengelele.
"We have been in communication with the Nigerian government and we
have been assured of the protection of the businesses belonging to
South Africa," Ngqengelele told local broadcaster eNCA.
The vandals attacked numerous South African-owned businesses in
Nigeria, including South African telecom giant MTN, supermarket chain
Shoprite and clothing retailer PEP.
The violence broke out in reprisal for a wave of attacks at the
weekend against foreign African nationals in South Africa's Gauteng
province.
Botswana meanwhile issued a travel advisory warning its citizens to
"exercise extreme caution" and remain vigilant at all times in South
Africa.
Five people were killed and more than 300 people have been arrested
since the violence erupted, in which shops were looted and vehicles
torched. Most affected were South Africa's economic hub Johannesburg
and capital Pretoria.
The African Union, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and South
African President Cyril Ramaphosa have all condemned the xenophobic
violence.
In Nigeria, the reprisal attacks took place in Lagos, as well as the
capital Abuja, the university town of Ibadan and the city of Uyo,
Nigeria's government said in a statement.
Numerous South African-owned businesses have closed and been placed
under police protection.
Thousands of students Wednesday protested in Zambia's capital Lusaka.
The students also attempted to attack and loot several South African
businesses.