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White SA MPs in racist hell in Nigeria

‘Our week of racist hell in Nigeria’ –

  • Jo-Ann Downs, deputy-pres. of African Christian Democratic Party…

 ACDP senior executives 2009 July 19 2009 -- Doreen Premdev writes on the frontpage of the Tribune that a seven-member South African parliamentary delegation has endured a nightmare trip to Nigeria during which specifically the white delegates were targetted by racist abuse and harassment by officials. Picture: the 2009 election ACDP top executes and delegates.

The entire group, mainly made up of KwaZulu-Natal provincial MPs, was intimidated – and especialy their white members were targetted by racist attacks and bribery attempts. Jo Ann Downs, deputy president of the African Christian Democratic Party, who formed part of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association study tour of Nigeria, described the trip as a week of "racist hell".'

We sat on the airport floor and waited for three hours

The group, which left South Africa on Tuesday and was led by the deputy speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature Mtholephi Mthimkhulu, was accompanied by  Downs, as well as Lindiwe Bebee (African National Congress), Makosi Nthuli (ANC), Richard Mthembu (ANC), Blessed Gwala (Inkatha Freedom Party) and Ben Ngubane (ANC).

They immediately encountered problems upon arrival in Lagos. Speaking to the Sunday Tribune from Nigeria before her return on Sunday, Downs said the delegation, as well as delegates from other African nations, have expressed"disgust" at the behaviour of some Nigerian officials.

  • "When we landed at the airport we were told there was ‘a problem with our documentation’. A security guard, with a firearm, tried to get us onto a plane back to South Africa, but we were told that we had to wait at the airport for them to sort out the problems.  We sat on the floor and waited for three hours. Eventually they allowed us to go to our hotel but we were escorted by officials. “

She also told of an incident at the hotel, ‘where an official sjambokked (whipped) the driver of their car, in an attempt to intimidate us."

Ordered not to leave the hotel:

Downs said the delegation stayed at the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos on Wednesday night and checked out on Thursday. She said they were given strict instructions not to leave the hotel ‘unless they were going out on official business’.

Downs grabbed for taking pictures in Niger Delta’s Bonny Islands oil terminals:

Niger Delta Bonny Islands oil terminals They booked in at the Protea Hotel in Port Harcourt, in the Rivers State on Thursday.

On Saturday morning the delegation was scheduled to visit Bonny Islands oil terminals, in the Niger Delta, (picture)  when Downs was rounded on for taking photographs.

"I had my camera hanging around my neck, and a man dressed in an overall came up to me. He was shouting at me for taking pictures. He grabbed the camera and I tried to get it away from him. "We struggled for a little while, and the other delegates tried to intervene. Eventually I gave the camera to him, but did complain about the incident. My camera was returned to me."

‘Frankly racist’:

Downs said the white delegates were ordered to "get out" of the boat, but the rest of the delegation protested: "I was shocked that they would treat people that way, it was frankly racist “

  • “After much protest they agreed to allow the white delegates on board,’ she said.

The delegates returned to South Africa on Sunday.

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