Namibian high commission warns about SA ‘no-go zones’

THE Namibian high commission in Pretoria has issued an advisory calling on Namibian nationals in and around the Gauteng province in South Africa to avoid areas that have experienced riots and xenophobic attacks.

This advisory comes after a bout of violent, xenophobic unrest and attacks in which South African locals have been targeting foreign migrants.

Vasco Samupofu, a counsellor at the high commission, confirmed the advisory, adding that their office is liaising with the South African authorities to monitor for any attacks on Namibians. Samupofu said no Namibians have been attacked so far.

“We have collaborated with the police here and they will contact us about any attacks [on Namibians],” he said.

The xenophobic attacks have largely been targeted at foreign-owned shops and lorry drivers in and around Johannesburg.

“[We] strongly request all Namibians in the Gauteng province to remain vigilant at all times and to avoid all hotspots until the situation is calm,” the advisory stated.

The high commission highlighted the Pretoria and Johannesburg central business districts, Hillbrow, Marabastad, Turffontein, Jeppestown, Malvern and Tembisa as “no-go zones”, and also warned against going to Sunnyside in Pretoria.

The high commission urged any Namibians affected by the violence to report to its office in Pretoria or to the Namibian consulate in Cape Town.

*More details in tomorrow’s edition.