South African residents in the Rosettenville, South of Johannesburg, have burnt 15 houses belonging to and rented by Nigerians, Foreign Nationals, claiming immigrants had turned the neighbourhood into a drug haven.They angrily claimed that Nigerians had illegally taken over most properties and made it drug and prostitution dens.

Mr Marc Gbaffou,The African Diaspora Forum (ADM) chairperson,  confirmed the attacks and blamed Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba, for his inflammatory comments. Mayor Herman reportedly told a media conference early last December, that illegal immigrants got there criminally and should be treated as such reports AfricaReview.com

On Friday, he visited Rosettenville and made claims that foreign nationals were using girls as young as nine as prostitutes in ‘drug houses’.

Mr Mashaba said:

“According to community members, these homes are illegally occupied by Nigerian foreign nationals who run the homes as brothels and have girls as young as nine years old working as prostitutes. Many of the women in these brothels are also alleged to have no official identification documentation.”

Mr Gbaffou reacting Mashaba comments said:
“What proof does he have that foreigners are running these brothels? His remarks are very inflammatory, and it makes no difference that he has diverted from illegal immigrants to drug peddling. It is very dangerous and we see it as propaganda of hatred.”

Mr Andile Tshem,a community leader,  called on residents to desist from violence saying:
“We don’t encourage this at all, you cannot correct a wrong with another wrong. South African people must not be living on the streets when foreigners are using houses as brothels.”

A man found in one of the houses that were set alight in Rosettenville has been arrested by the Police and he is expected to be charged with arson and public violence. His court  appearance will be on Monday.