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Nigeria has begun repatriating its citizens from South Africa following the xenophobic attacks perpetrated by some South Africans on foreigners, Aljazeera reports. About 1,000 foreign-owned businesses were targeted, including Nigerians, Ethiopians, Congolese, Zambians and Zimbabweans.  Air Peace, a private Nigerian airline, volunteered to fly Nigerian citizens to Nigeria's commercial capital - Lagos - for free, on Wednesday. The first batch of 189 Nigerians arrived Lagos late Wednesday. A second flight is set to depart today Thursday or Friday. 640 Nigerians in total are expected to leave South Africa. Many foreigners (more than 700) including Zimbabweans and Malawians, left their homes with just a few bags when violence broke out, and sought refuge in community centers.  Amidst the xenophobic violence in South Africa, "fake" videos have been circulating on social media showing Nigerians being killed in South Africa, but Nigeria's Foreign Ministry has sta...

In the last three days, football friendlies with South Africa have been called off by two countries. Zambia were due to host South Africa in Lusaka on Saturday, but pulled out of the match on Tuesday in protest, citing "prevailing security concerns" following the violent attacks on foreign-owned shops in Johannesburg and Pretoria. Madagascar were lined up to replace Zambia, with the fixture to be staged in Johannesburg, but Madagascar has pulled out of playing the game, citing security reasons as well.  In a statement, the Malagasy Football Federation said, "... after having agreed with Malagasy national institutions in particular regarding the security of the delegation of Madagascar and Malagasy nationals in South Africa, it was found necessary and judicious to decline the invitation." South Africa's Football Federation, SAFA, tweeted earlier, "SAFA regrets to inform the public that the match between Bafana Bafana and Madagascar scheduled for thi...

The Chipolopolo of Zambia were to face the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in a friendly match on Saturday, September 7, but the match has been called off by Zambia's football association. The Football Association of Zambia in a statement on Tuesday evening announced,  “The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) regrets to inform members of the public that the international friendly match between Zambia and South Africa that was scheduled for National Heroes Stadium on Saturday, 7 September 2019 has been called off in view of the prevailing security concerns in South Africa. "FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala has relayed the message to the South African Football Association (SAFA) about the decision." FAZ General Secretary, Adrian Kashala, said Zambia would now play Namibia in a friendly on Monday. South African Football Association (SAFA) Communications Manager Dominic Chimhavi acknowledged receipt of the memo from FAZ, saying, “We have just received correspond...