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Afrophobia-Xenophobia in South Africa: Congolese boxer Romeo Katompa burned alive in Johannesburg.


Congolese boxer Romeo Katompa has died after Afrophobia-xenophobic attack in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was allegedly burned alive.


Congolese boxer Romeo Katompa has reportedly died after allegedly being targeted in a suspected xenophobic attack in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Congolese community in South Africa is in mourning. Boxer Roméo Katompa, widely known by his nickname “Bololo,” died during the night of July 16–17 after being burned alive in an attack in Johannesburg.

According to initial reports, the tragedy is believed to be linked to the wave of Afrophobia-xenophobia violence currently affecting several parts of South Africa, where foreign Black migrants have increasingly become targets.

Preliminary reports indicate the horrific death and murder of Katompa is directly linked to the latest, volatile wave of Afrophobia-xenophobia violence and attacks sweeping across major commercial cities in South Africa, where foreign Black nationals are being targeted by extremist local vigilante groups.

Having lived in South Africa for several years, Katompa had fully integrated into the South African society and community. Katompa built his life in South Africa. He was married to a South African woman with whom he shared one child with, and who was born in South Africa.
He was a respected figure within the Congolese diaspora. Despite his peaceful nature and contribution to the local sports and boxing ecosystem in South Africa and the boxing world as a whole, his foreign origin of Congo made him a target in the
lawless flare-up of anti-Black migrant violence sweeping across South Africa.
He was also well known in boxing circles, having served as a sparring partner for Junior Makabu, the former WBC cruiserweight world champion.

The exact circumstances surrounding his death have yet to be fully established, but eyewitness accounts report of Katompa being cornered by an anti-Black migrants vigilante mob during the recent outbreak of targeted violence against Black foreign- owned businesses, properties and individuals in Johannesburg.

The devastated news has already sparked deep grief among Congolese nationals living in South Africa and across the African boxing community.

Congolese nationals living in South Africa are baffled by the circumstances, which they say have left them with many questions.
“Why did a young, fit Katompa not run out of his apartment and why did the fire only affect his apartment and not the whole building?”, one Congolese national
asked.
Katompa horrific death once again brings the international spotlight back on South Africa for its persistent unresolved Afrophobia in the country.

Over the years, targeted anti-Black violence has claimed the lives of African migrants in South Africa, including Nigerians, Ghanaians, Zimbabwean, and Cameroonians, with minimal accountability or successful prosecutions of the anti-Black migrants vigilante groups or individuals.

Katompa tragedy is once again highlighting the recurring issue of Afrophobia violence against Black foreign nationals in South Africa, a persistent problem that has repeatedly claimed the lives of members of African communities living in South Africa, including Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Ghanaians, and Cameroonians.

Pan-Africanist scholars have been arguing that the recurring anti-Black migrants hatred, violence, and bloodshed in South Africa is being fueled by local politicians who are using Black foreign nationals as scapegoats for South Africa’s high unemployment rates, failing public infrastructure, and escalating domestic crimes.
The government of Ghana is demanding the African Union to force the South African government to take definite measures to secure the lives of foreign Black residents living in South Africa, before the Afrophobia-xenophobia violence against Black migrants in South Africa spiral out of control, and turn into a full-blown regional diplomatic conflict.

Personal Life: Originally from Mbuji-Mayi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Katompa had lived in South Africa for several years. He was married to a South African woman and a father of a young daughter, who was born in South Africa.
Katompa was 35 years old at the time of his death.