By Ayorinde Oluokun
The South African Police Service, SAPS, has flagged a viral report alleging arrest of two Nigerians with two female corpses in a vehicle being used for transportation of narcotics on a highway in Durban city in the country as false.
The viral report surfaced in a tweet in the midst of ongoing xenophobia attacks against foreigners, especially black Africans by nationals in the former apartheid enclave.
There have been harrowing videos circulating on the internet showing attacks and molestations of Ghanians by black South Africans.
Nigerians have also not been spared as there have also been videos of black South Africans asking them to leave and return home with threats of unleashing violence on them.
It was suspected that the viral fake tweet was intended to further rake up anger against Nigerians living in South Africa and set them up for more xenophobic attacks.
The tweet reads: A policeman and two Nigerian nationals were apprehended on the N3 highway in Durban. The officer was accompanying a Mercedes Benz driven by a Nigerian man and another man on the passenger side. While the officer was traveling alone. The vehicles were searched and they discovered two female corpses, allegedly being utilized for smuggling narcotics valued at R4 000 000.”
However, SAPS flagged the claims in the tweet as false while cautioning against publishing or recirculating it in a tweet on its X handle accompanied by the picture of the viral tweet.
SAPS said it noted with “concern the circulation of #FakeNews and calls on all who have published, seen or received the false news post, currently circulating on social media, to ignore it and to refrain from sharing or disseminating false information.”
Meanwhile, the South African Ministry of Police has also strongly condemned xenophobic attacks against Ghanians and other foreign national in the country.
“The Ministry of Police strongly condemns the recent xenophobic acts of violence and intimidation directed at Ghanaian nationals and other foreign nationals within the Republic of South Africa,” the Ministry said in a statement posted on its social media handles.
It further described that actions as are “unlawful, and in direct opposition to the values of dignity, equality, and human rights upon which our democracy is founded.”
“South Africa is a constitutional state governed by the rule of law. No individual or group has the authority to take the law into their own hands, irrespective of grievances or frustrations.
“The Ministry of Police wishes to advise the members of the public that acts of xenophobia, violence, looting, or intimidation will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The #SAPS has been instructed to act decisively and without hesitation in addressing these incidents. All those found to be participating in, inciting, or supporting such criminal conduct will be identified, apprehended, and brought before the courts.
“The Ministry of Police calls on all communities to remain calm and to reject any attempts to sow division and hatred among residents of our country. The Ministry further urges community leaders, civil society organisations, and all stakeholders to work together with law enforcement agencies to prevent further violence and to promote dialogue and understanding,”
