ANI
11 Sep 2019, 22:26 GMT+10
Pretoria [South Africa], Sep 11 (ANI): More than 600 Nigerians began returning to their homeland following a wave of deadly xenophobic attacks in South Africa, media reported.
Private Nigerian airline Air Peace volunteered to fly people for free back to the commercial capital Lagos. At least 320 Nigerians were expected to fly out on Wednesday, while a second flight departs on Thursday, Al Jazeera reported.
As many as 640 Nigerians have signed up to return home.
This comes after riots in Pretoria and Johannesburg claimed at least 12 lives as 1,000 foreign-owned businesses were targeted. This sparked an international outcry and calls for a boycott of South Africa.
Moreover, around 700 people from other countries including Zimbabwe and Malawi sought refuge in community centres due to the ongoing situation in the country.
Subsequently, Mozambique and Zimbabwe were also considering some sort of repatriation of their nationals.
According to Minister of Police Bheki Cele, the police have arrested at least 653 people, mostly South Africans, but some foreigners as well, in connection with the latest attacks.
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to visit South Africa next month to discuss the violence and seek a solution. (ANI)Get a daily dose of Travel Trade news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Travel Trade.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal rule designed to make it easier for Americans to cancel subscriptions has been blocked by a U.S. appeals...
BASTROP, Texas: In a surprising turn at Elon Musk's X platform, CEO Linda Yaccarino announced she is stepping down, just months after...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak will return to Goldman Sachs in an advisory role, the Wall Street...
LONDON, U.K.: Physically backed gold exchange-traded funds recorded their most significant semi-annual inflow since the first half...
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Some 32 percent of global semiconductor production could face climate change-related copper supply disruptions...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks rebounded Tuesday with all the major indices gaining ground. Markets in the UK, Europe and Canada...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
PARIS, France: French military and intelligence officials have accused China of orchestrating a covert campaign to damage the reputation...
PARIS, France: A strike by French air traffic controllers demanding improved working conditions caused significant disruptions during...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. government has granted GE Aerospace permission to resume jet engine shipments to China's COMAC, a person...
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released the preliminary report into the tragic...
New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday chaired a high-level meeting on the rejuvenation of the Yamuna...