Rwanda’s High Commissioner in Pretoria, Vincent Karega on Wednesday cautioned his compatriots in South Africa to take “extra precautionary measures” for their safety in the face of widespread xenophobic attacks targeting mainly foreigners.
“Unnecessary movements should be avoided as well as movement to other places except where it is absolutely necessary,” Karega told local media in an interview via Pretoria.
The travel warning comes as the latest spate of violence started in Pretoria last week, when several shops were looted and burnt, leaving a trail of destruction in South Africa’s volatile capital city following the shooting of a taxi driver allegedly by a drug dealer.
The looting soon spread to Johannesburg where more foreign-owned shops were attacked.
In a related development, Zambia’s football association has cancelled an international friendly match against South Africa scheduled to take place on Saturday in the capital, Lusaka.
Police say five people have been killed but have not revealed their identities or nationalities.
At least 189 people have been arrested over the disturbances which began over the weekend.
South Africa experienced its worst outbreak of violence against foreigners in 2008, when more than 60 people died.
“Given that there are no many Rwanda nationals involved in business in South Africa, there is still enormous security risks if they decide to make unnecessary trips across South Africa,” the Rwandan diplomat said.
Members of Rwandan diaspora in South Africa are estimated at about 750 people, according to diplomatic sources in Pretoria.
CU/as/APA