Singer Tiwa Savage cancels performance in South Africa

Lagos. Nigerian songstress Tiwa Savage has cancelled her performance in South Africa over the recent wave of violence by South Africans towards other Africans.

Writing on her tweeter handle said her decision was mainly informed by “the barbaric butchering of my people in South Africa.”

The DSTV delicious Festival was scheduled to be held on September 21 in Johannesburg which has been hugely affected by the xenophobic attacks.

“I refuse to watch the barbaric butchering of my people in SA. This is SICK. For this reason I will NOT be performing at the upcoming DSTV delicious Festival in Johannesburg on the 21st of September. My prayers are with all the victims and families affected by this,” Tiwa wrote.

In the last couple of days, foreign nationals most especially Nigerians have been affected by the recent spate of violence through arson and physical violence.

Reports indicate that five people have so far been killed by the wave of violence across Gauteng, causing a diplomatic standoff between Nigeria and South Africa.

Several Shoprite stores – a South African-owned franchise – have been looted and raided over the past 24 hours. Violence broke out at some establishments, and some reports claim that one protester was shot dead in Lagos State.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday condemned the attacks and asked security forces to find a way of salvaging the situation.

“I condemn the violence that has been spreading around a number of our provinces in the strongest terms. I’m convening the ministers in the security cluster today to make sure that we keep a close eye on these acts of wanton violence and find ways of stopping them,” he said.

There have been no records of Tanzanian nationals being affected by the violence and the High Commissioner says they are doing everything possible to keep Tanzanians safe.