…As Nigerians, host citizens now operate within their boundaries
…Govt’s efforts yielding desired results
Call it peace at last, or whatever that sounds good, that is the reality in South Africa now.
Citizens and foreigners are at peace with each other, as little or no unrests and attacks have been witnessed for a long time.
Interestingly, Nigerian residents, who are often in the eyes of the storm, seem to have turned a new leaf.
“Up Naija. My brother, we are one people,” Sizwe Bonga, an airport officer, greeted some Nigerian passengers on arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg recently.
The driver of the tour company that handled logistics for some of the passengers, greeted also saying ‘sharp’, a South African slang that means ‘correct’ or ‘cool’ in the Nigerian slang parlance.
Just being curious over the good gesture from almost everyone since landing, a Cameroonian-born serial entrepreneur, who also enjoyed the courtesy, asked rhetorically, What is happening?
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What is happening, according to Tekhle Sifiso, a hotel supervisor, is ‘Ubuntu’.
Ubuntu is a South African word meaning ‘humanity to others’, which often reminds people that ‘I am what I am because of who we all are’.
“Yes, it is Ubuntu for all. I cannot be here if you guys are not coming, there will be no South Africa if there is no Nigeria and there will be no Kenya if there is no Ghana,” he explained.
“We have realised that and we want everyone to live in the Ubuntu spirit and principles because it encourages peaceful coexistence among we Africans and others,” Sifiso enthused.
However, Sifiso, a fan of Orlando Pirates Football Club, noted that those who do not live in the ‘Ubuntu’ spirit and those who commit crime are treated accordingly, whether South African citizens or foreigners.
“It is all about respect, the golden law and being law abiding because South Africa is highly diverse. Do not give anybody opportunity to mess you up, do the right things and the law will protect you,” he urged.
In line with Sifiso’s explanations, there is now understanding, instead of vengeance, and ‘Ubuntu’ instead of victimisation.
As well, Joshua Awesome, a Nigerian professional, who lives in South Africa, agreed with Sifiso, saying that the host country’s relationship with foreigners has greatly improved in recent times.
The PhD holder, who have been in South Africa for 15 years, enthused that things are better now, insisting that it has been more of brotherliness and tolerance in recent time.
“I came to this country about 15 years ago on study visa, I earned all the degrees to PhD level and I am working here, across most of the provinces and also impacting the host country’s economy,” Awesome, an executive coaching psychologist, a mental health advocate and founder, African Institute of the Mind, said.
He confessed that he has lived this long in the country, peaceful and improved because “I stay within the ambit of the law”.
According to him, the crisis period for foreigners are over, but that does not mean that those who engage in crime will not be arrested.
“It is not about victimisation again, but being law abiding, respecting the host country and its citizens, then the law will always protect you if you are clean,” he said.
Narrowing it down to the Nigerian community in South Africa, Awesome observed that there has been peaceful coexistence in recent times.
He attributed the good development to the Nigerian citizens becoming more aware that they need to do the right things, stay away from crime and most importantly, become economic immigrants.
“Every host country looks to attract foreigners who are professionals, people with needed skills or investors ready to partner locals to boost the economy.
“That is why I call myself an economic immigrant because I am contributing to South Africa’s economy.
They need me here, my knowledge, and my skills. Don’t forget that I schooled here,” he said.
Daniel Emamere, CEO, Heavenly Boutique Guest House, a boutique offering in the South of Johannesburg, fits well into the economic immigrant category, which Awesome said are sought-after in South Africa.
Emamere, a Nigerian-American hospitality investor, who co-owns the hotel with his South African wife, got all the necessary approvals, built the business from the scratch, employed the citizens and is impacting the economy positively.
“I have been here in the last decade and have run the hotel for nine years now without any issue because
I came in as an investor, tendered proof, did the right things, got all the approvals and my life and investment have been safe,” he said.
The Nigerian PhD holder in Theology and hotelier, expressed his excitement over the peaceful coexistence among the citizens and foreigners, saying that the level of tolerance has improved, while foreigners have also begun to respect the laws of the land more.
Speaking on the space for foreigners, especially Nigerians, in the business environment of South Africa, Emamere said, “As a Nigerian, it was not easy setting up business here, but the genuineness of my purpose made a way for me.
“First, they need to trust you. Once South Africans trust you, they will go the extra mile to ensure that you achieve your dreams.”
The above supports Awesome’s views about the host country that foreigners always reap the seed they sow, hence the need to do the right things.
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“The beauty I am experiencing is because of the beauty within me as a person. I don’t go creating unnecessary tension in any place here. I don’t speak to people in an offensive way. I also do not allow myself to be pulled into a space where unnecessaries begin to emerge.
“I say that because I think that many people who don’t live here have the wrong impressions about the country and they tend to become warriors via their keyboards,” he said.
But Onyekachi Nduli, a business owner, who lives in Cape Town, noted that the peaceful coexistence is also because Nigerians have organised themselves now and that is attracting respect from the host country.
“Before now, we have multiple associations, even village groups. But the Nigerian Consulate here has done well by overseeing an election at the Consulate that produced one recognised association for all Nigerian residents here,” Nduli said.
The immediate gains from the organisation, according to him, include a centralised information channel, harmonised data of Nigerian citizens, and faster help for any citizen in critical situations.
“The fact that the police now contacts the Consulate directly for data or any information on a Nigerian citizen and the Consulate also works with the recognised association to ensure that the citizen in question is a documented Nigerian, is something to applaud,” Nduli said.
Also commending the good gesture of the Nigerian Consulate, Awesome expressed excitement on hearing that the embassy now recognises one association and even supported the election inside the Consulate.
“It is a good start,” he said, while insisting that it could be better.
“For it to be better, the people who are there need to see themselves as servants of the public. After all, that is what public servant means,” he noted.
A Nigerian staff of PwD, South Africa, who pleaded for anonymity, pointed out that the peaceful coexistence is also because most Nigerians, especially professionals, have taken it upon themselves to regularise their documents, while business owners are getting the necessary approvals.
“The issue in the past has been more of illegitimate stay. We have passed that level now because the law here is clear on it with grave consequences for visa overstay, document forgery, drug peddling and fraud.
“I am an auditor and I have been encouraging Nigerian businesses here to get the necessary approvals, pay what is due to the authorities and get closer to the Consulate.
Again, do not bring your brother or friend from Nigeria who do not have education or skills because the person will be deported,” he noted.
He also observed that deportation and arrests stories are less these days.
“I guess, our countrymen are beginning to adjust faster than one will ever think, many are also relocating to the UK, USA and smaller African countries, especially Angola, from here. People Japa from here too, especially our academics, doctors and other professionals,” he said.
The auditor also commended the government back home, insisting that such an improvement cannot be possible without sustained diplomatic push.
“I don’t see Nigerians in the eyes of the storm again in South Africa. Even if there is xenophobia, most Nigerians will be safe because there is a different mindset now, many who can afford safer neighbours are moving in, we are cutting down on our ostentatious living here and it is good for our image,” he concluded.
Anthony Mutume, a Kenyan citizen, who lives in Johannesburg, also noted that the peace is not just for Nigerian citizens, but for every law abiding resident.
“We Kenyans do not need visa to come to South Africa again. But we cannot abuse that privilege because our country believes in visa reciprocity, which means that the privilege can be withdrawn by the host country if abused,” he said.
He pointed out that more citizens of other African countries visit South Africa more than South Africans visit their respective countries, hence the question of why must you all come here, which is no longer being asked by the host.
“I am a trained rancher and tour guide. I was hired two years ago by a tour company here and I am living well.
“So, I think that those with skills will always be welcomed here,” he noted.
Toeing a different line, Damilola Ogini, an Ikeja-based tour operator, attributed the peaceful coexistence to the huge visa refusals by the South African Embassy in Nigeria, which, she noted, has reduced the number of Nigerian visa applicants, and consequently, less Nigerians residents in the country.
“Visa is expensive, the stress is much and refusals are increasing. So, why will I encourage clients to South Africa when other destinations give out more visas,” she queried.
Jonas Ndoma, who had a successful South Africa visa application in Lagos recently, decried the declining number of applicants at the VFS Centre in Lekki, Lagos, which handles visa document processing for the South Africa Embassy in Lagos.
“I am a frequent traveller to South Africa. There were times the section for South Africa visa processing at VFS Centre is full with many time belts to accommodate the huge volume.
But I have not seen such numbers in recent times, though they said some prefer online visa,” Ndoma observed.
On his part, Eric Obinwa, a senior lecturer at a private university, blamed the declining numbers on the ‘Japa’ syndrome, with many Nigerians not considering South Africa for ‘Japa’.
“People are leaving for the UK, Canada and the US, even some in South Africa are relocating from there to Canada. I have two colleagues who left for jobs in the UK and Netherlands schools,” he said.
For business, he noted that Asian countries are priority destinations for Nigerians, especially China, India and Malaysia, which do not tolerate drugs.
In all, most Nigerians in South Africa are happy with the turn of events, but hope that the peaceful coexistence would be sustained, while South African citizens and authorities equally hope that their hosts will keep behaving well.
“We need everyone to work towards maintaining this peace because it is to our advantage. The Nigerian Consulate, the centralised Nigerian association, our professionals and business owners should not relax yet.
Let’s keep the pressure on ourselves to do the right things and stop infighting in order to stay safe and peaceful here,” Nduli concluded.
