South Africans of Indian-origin get threats over WhatsApp, community descends into panic

Following violent clashes in July, South Africans of Indian-origin in Johannesburg and Dubran have been subjected to threats via WhatsApp.

Clashes erupted in the country following the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma.

Videos and messages targeting Indians are circulating, causing panic, Kimeshan Raman, a 33-year-old resident of Durban and social activist, told TOI.


Raman has recently applied for an Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card, which will effectively grant him the same protection as a resident of India.

He’s not the only one, multiple South Africans who trace their roots back to India are seeking shelter under the OCI umbrella in fear of further violence against the community.

In two weeks that followed Zuma’s arrest, 330 people were killed, including two Indians. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to deploy the army diffused the violence, for now.

Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter Ela Gandhi, a resident of Durban, told TOI, "We are trying to unite people across racial lines and build peace and goodwill."

But there's still a lot of uncertainty and insecurity because of the continued threats, she added.

People applying for the OCI have other problems to handle, too, with poor upkeep of documents - like the ship list of indentured labourers brought from India - and a lackluster response from the Indian Embassy proving a thorn in their side.