Xenophobic attacks in South Africa: Separating fact from fiction

The international fallout from this week’s deadly riots and xenophobic attacks in South Africa continues, as African countries sending out strong messages protesting the treatment of their citizens.

South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday pledged to tackle the issue with the seriousness it deserves, saying his country values its relations with the rest of the continent.

“Our country has been deeply traumatised …by acts of violence and criminality,” he said in a televised address. “There can be no excuse for attacks on homes and businesses of foreign nationals … (or) xenophobia.”

There can be no excuse for attacks on homes and businesses of foreign nationals.

While Ramaphosa confirmed that at least ten people had been killed during the past week, of whom two were foreigners, social media has been awash with stories of higher death tolls and gruesome accounts of the violence in the country.

In this story, we highlight the misleading and untrue stories that are being shared on several social media platforms.

Claim: Foreigners had to jump out of a building in Johannesburg, after it was set on fire by South Africans.

Fact: The video was not filmed in South Africa at all, but in India. It shows a horrific fire in the western Indian city of Surat, which killed 20 teenagers last May.

Claim: Nigerians have been killed in South Africa

Fact: The identities of the 2 foreigners killed are yet to be revealed. The Nigerian government has categorically stated that not as single Nigerian has been killed in South Africa this week.

 

Claim: Foreign nationals have been set on fire by South Africans during this week’s unrest.

Fact: The video below first appeared in media reports in South Africa in January this year. The man was burned by a mob for allegedly stealing a handbag.

Claim: Armed Nigerians were engaged in a shoot-out with South Africans.

Fact: The people in the footage being shared on social media are actors.