Anti-immigrant violence erupts in S. Africa

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — The South African government on Thursday called for calm after a wave of xenophobic violence in which dozens of shops and houses owned by immigrants have been torched and looted.

Many locals have alleged that the targets were brothels and drug dens being run by migrants from elsewhere in Africa, includ- ing Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

The violence has prompted Nigeria to summon South Africa’s top envoy to Abuja to raise their concerns.

Nigeria’s junior foreign minister Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim said the high commissioner would be “informed of (the) government’s concerns on the situation” and asked to ensure action was taken.