Diplomatic tensions might be rising after South Africa announced that it will not honour Nigeria’s compensation demand for citizens forced to close their businesses due to ongoing xenophobic attacks.
The refusal has raised fears of a severe diplomatic fallout between two of the biggest countries on the African continent.
Following weeks of escalating anti-immigrant protests and vigilante actions spearheaded by groups like Operation Dudula and the March and March movement, the Nigerian government launched an emergency evacuation protocol.
Over 500 Nigerians have been repatriated aboard state-backed flights to Lagos after a tense June 30 deadline set by South African civilian groups sparked widespread looting and violence.
In response, Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Temitope Ajayi, announced that the Federal Government was actively documenting the losses—including looted shops, vehicles, and abandoned properties—to present a formal compensation claim.
However, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, dismissed Nigeria’s compensation demand, insisting that the government would not compensate anyone for properties left behind.
According to Ntshavheni, legally owned properties are officially registered with relevant authorities and can be sold through the country’s property market, while structures in informal settlements are illegal and therefore not recognised as legitimate property.
“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 said.
“Squatter camps and informal settlements are never properties because they are illegal in the country. So you are already violating our law if you are going to tell us about a shack in some informal settlement.”
She added: “So there’s no compensation that will come from the government. Those who leave their properties, if they are properly legally registered in the country, can dispose of the properties in the property market in South Africa — whether it’s movable or immovable property. And we are going to seriously appreciate being told where the drug dens are.”
Ntshavheni also disclosed that the South African government had approved new measures to prevent the re-establishment of informal settlements after they are demolished.
The latest development follows renewed xenophobic violence targeting African migrants in South Africa, which forced many Nigerians to leave the country amid concerns over their safety.
