South African envoy to Nigeria denies xenophobic attacks

South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby Monroe, has denied reports of xenophobic attacks in his country.

Mr Monroe said at a press briefing on Tuesday that the attacks were ‘sporadic acts of violence’.

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He said this after meeting with the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffery Onyeama.

The recent attacks began last week after a taxi driver was murdered by an alleged drug dealer in Pretoria.

Speculations that the alleged killer was a Nigerian sparked protest, looting and burning of business centres owned by foreigners.

Three Nigerians were said to have been killed in the process with scores injured.

Monroe, however, said that businesses belonging to other South Africans were also affected in the violence.