South Africa wants money.
The government of South Africa has levied Nigeria, Ethiopia and Ghana.
The levy is the sum of $18.5m for expenses incurred in repatriating citizens of those countries due to xenophobia.
The bill is for blood money.
In May, nationalist criminals attacked Black migrants in South Africa.
Entire families were terrified. Shops and residences were looted. Migrants were beaten. Some were killed.
It was xenophobia cut loose.
The attacks drew Africa’s ire. At the World Cup, Africans were up in arms.
When South Africa lost its opening match to Mexico before being knocked out by Canada, African cheers and jeers rang loud.
Diplomatic ties have frayed.
The Ghanaian government pushed back a South African state visit.
Nigeria also made its disappointment known with motions in parliament and diplomatic delegations dispatched to protest.
Nigerians have had a go too.
Tyla, the Grammy Award-winning South African singer, was to tour Nigeria.
The pushback and backlash from Nigerians forced her to remove Nigeria from her tour list, much to the amusement of Nigerians.
The demand is bizarre.
The South African government is not a debt collector.
Consequently, no country owes it a dime for its failure to rein in xenophobia. The cheeks to even ask for reimbursement.
It should cover its costs.
African countries must be wary of taking actions that burn their fingers.
While African solidarity cannot be used as a blank cheque for illegalities, it also cannot be used a rod to beat African backs.
South Africa is not a victim.
This makes this demand by its government absolutely curious.
The real victims left more than a month ago driven out of South Africa by xenophobic criminals threatening harm.
They left with nothing.
Many of them left business and properties fleeing only with their.
Rather than this laughable attempt at cross border blackmail, South Africa should talk about its plans to compensate them.
The road ahead is arduous.
Black Africans have been a lightening rod for racism all over the world.
It is heartbreaking that discrimination against Africans is happening in Africa where hands should be joined to fight it.
South Africa should act fast.
What is at stake is African solidarity and not illegal migration.
Instead of this lame attempt at extortion, there should be restitution, apologies, and commitment to preclude a repeat.
This bill is a distraction.
Africa currently has enough challenges; it cannot afford more.
South Africa should concentrate on repairing diplomatic ties and cleaning up its image according to other Africans.
Xenophobia is a scandal.
There is nothing to gain from it. It brings no benefits now or in the future.
The criminals who assaulted and robbed other Africans may have felt powerful in the moment, but that was all it was.
True power lies in unity.
It is not a unity in denial but one which seeks solutions to problems.
Illegal migration is a problem. But xenophobia is not a solution to it. If anything, it is an even bigger problem.
Africans should reject bias.
Their continent has a painful history with discrimination.
The greatest lesson from the discrimination of apartheid, colonialism, and racism remains that it benefits no one.
Africa should note this.
Kene Obiezu is a lawyer and writer.
