No fewer than twenty Nigerian businesses were affected in the violent protest that greeted the sentencing of South African former President, Jacob Zuma.
The protests which started at the weekend shortly after the court pronounced a fifteen months jail term for the former president has led to wanton destruction and looting of business places.
Confirming the incident, Prince Benjamin Okoli, President, Nigerians Citizens in South Africa, said Nigerian businesses affected are about twenty including mechanic workshops and car mart.
He said Nigerians have suffered collateral damage in the protests.
He also said that most of the people affected in this latest incident were victims of 2019 xenophobia who were trying to start life afresh.
He posited that attempts have been made to reach the Nigerian authorities in South Africa to see how they could be of support to Nigerian community.
The violent protests he said has since spread to some cities in Gauteng most especially Jeppetown, Jules Street, Hillbrow, Alexander, Springfield Park, Vosloorus areas of Johannesburg.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Consulate General in South Africa has reached out to Nigerians in South Africa to follow lawful means in seeking redress.
The Consulate General also confirmed that a number of businesses in Durban and Johannesburg were burned and looted under the guise of protests.
The Nigerian mission therefore called on South African authorities to take proactive steps to prevent further loss of lives and properties.
The mission also urged Nigerians to be cautious and avoid high risk areas in order not to be caught up in the violent protest as the police and law enforcement agencies work to bring the situation under control.
