The Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly has addressed a stern petition to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, calling for a definitive end to the recurring xenophobic violence against Nigerians and other African citizens living in the country. In a letter dated May 3, 2026, the group’s Chairman, Denge Josef Umunnakwe Onoh, expressed deep frustration over what the forum describes as a systemic failure by the South African government to protect foreign nationals.
The petition highlights a disturbing trend of deadly violence that has targeted migrants from Nigeria, Ghana, and Zimbabwe over the years. The group pointed to a history of bloodshed, including the 2008 attacks that left over 60 people dead and thousands displaced, followed by similar escalations in 2015 and 2019. Since the end of apartheid in 1994, monitoring groups have documented hundreds of fatalities and the widespread destruction of foreign-owned businesses, yet justice for these victims remains elusive.
Of particular concern are recent tragedies that occurred in April 2026. The forum cited the deaths of two Nigerians, Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew, under circumstances allegedly linked to anti-foreigner sentiment and law enforcement actions. Reports suggest that Emmanuel lost his life following an assault involving military personnel, while Andrew died after being taken into custody by metro police in Pretoria. The group argues that the repeated verbal condemnations from South African leaders have not been backed by concrete actions, creating a climate of indifference that allows these crimes to persist.
In a significant escalation of the matter, the former lawmakers warned that if President Ramaphosa fails to intervene decisively, they are prepared to take the case to the International Criminal Court. The group stated that the persistent nature of these attacks could be classified as crimes against humanity, specifically murder and persecution, under the Rome Statute. They believe that international accountability may be the only way to break the cycle of violence if local authorities continue to fall short of their responsibilities.
The forum has laid out several urgent demands, including the deployment of dedicated security forces to safeguard foreign nationals and the launch of independent investigations into recent killings. They are also calling for the prosecution of offenders, compensation for affected families, and a more sincere partnership with other African governments. Rooting their argument in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the group insists that the situation has reached a critical point that requires immediate intervention to prevent a full-blown humanitarian disaster.
