Diplomatic tensions between South Africa and Nigeria have flared once again after Pretoria firmly rejected calls from Abuja to compensate Nigerian citizens who fled recent xenophobic violence. The evacuations were sparked by a fresh wave of targeted attacks against foreign nationals, forcing many Nigerians to abandon their livelihoods and return home.
Nigeria Seeks Redress for Displaced Citizens
The push for financial restitution was initiated by Temitope Ajayi, the acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa. Earlier this week, Ajayi revealed that the Nigerian government had started compiling a comprehensive database of businesses and assets left behind by the evacuated returnees. This record was intended to serve as the foundation for formal bilateral negotiations regarding compensation.
However, South African authorities have quickly shut down any expectations of a financial payout, stating that the government bears no responsibility for properties outside the legal framework.
South Africa Responds with Hardline Stance
Speaking at a press conference, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, dismissed the compensation demands. Ntshavheni clarified that the South African government would only recognize legally registered assets, suggesting that legitimate property owners are free to sell their holdings through the standard real estate market.
Conversely, the minister took a swipe at informal settlements and undocumented businesses, labeling them as unlawful. “Squatter camps and informal settlements are never properties because they are illegal in the country,” Ntshavheni stated. “So you are already violating our law if you are going to tell us about a shack in some informal settlement.”
Focus Shifts to ‘Drug Dens’
In a highly provocative counter-demand, Ntshavheni challenged the Nigerian government to provide intelligence on illicit drug operations instead of seeking compensation. The minister suggested that South African law enforcement would prioritize cleaning up communities over negotiating financial packages.
“We’ll be interested to know where the drug dens of Nigerians are. So they can show us where they have been holding the drugs so that we can clean the drugs in South Africa quite urgently,” she remarked.
Additionally, the South African government confirmed it has approved strict measures to prevent the re-erection of informal structures once they are demolished, signaling a broader crackdown on unregulated settlements.