Nigerian govt blasts South African minister over derogatory ‘drug dens’ remarks

THE Nigerian government has condemned comments by South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, after she challenged Nigeria to identify alleged drug dens operated by Nigerians in the country.

Ntshavheni made the remarks during a press briefing on Friday as she dismissed calls for compensation for Nigerians who abandoned their properties after fleeing renewed anti-migrant violence in South Africa.

Rather than discussing compensation, the minister said South African authorities would prefer to be shown the locations of what she described as ‘drug dens’ linked to Nigerians.

READ ALSO: South Africa rebuffs Nigeria’s compensation bid, demands locations of drug dens

“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.

She also argued that structures in informal settlements could not qualify as compensable property because such settlements are illegal under South African law.

“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,” Ntshavheni said.

The minister added that the South African government would not pay compensation, insisting that Nigerians who legally owned property in the country were free to sell their assets through the property market. She again urged Nigeria to identify the alleged drug locations.

Ntshavheni later stood by her comments after a former senator representing Kaduna Central, Mr Shehu Sani, expressed surprise at her remarks. Responding to him, she wrote: “I didn’t stutter.”

Reacting in a statement, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, described the minister’s comments as inflammatory, unacceptable and capable of fuelling hostility against Nigerians living in South Africa.

According to the ministry, “Such derogatory, unprofessional and uncensored generalised public statements by highly placed government officials constitute hate speech that influences and incites negative and criminal actions against members of the Nigerian community.”

The ministry also warned that leaders of anti-migrant groups, including March on March and Operation Dudula, could be held accountable under regional and international law for inciting violence and hatred against fellow Africans.

The diplomatic row comes after two Nigerians were reportedly killed shortly before the June 30 deadline issued by rights groups for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa. Since the violence began in April, at least four Nigerian deaths have been officially confirmed, although some evacuees claim the toll is higher.

READ ALSO: Beauty Queen Ntashabele: South Africans hate Nigerians because of drug dealing

Nigerians called on South African authorities to launch immediate investigations into the killings and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

The foreign affairs ministry stressed that South Africa has an obligation to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerian nationals, noting that South African citizens and businesses continue to operate freely in Nigeria. It warned that Nigeria would consider further action if attacks against its citizens persist.

International relations analysts have lampooned the South African minister, stressing that her response shows that she is more interested in severing the relationship between both countries rather than maintaining it.

“It is rather an unfortunate statement coming from a minister in the presidency,” said an Abuja-based international relations lecturer, Dr Ahmadu Muazu. “It also shows you where the whole heat is coming from: South Africa’s seat of power. When they fail as a government, they resort to distracting their citizens with petty things. It is also the same in Nigeria and several other African nations.”

Dr Muazu concluded by telling South Africans to brace up for the consequences of their actions. “All I have to tell this minister and her cheerleaders is that they will feel the impact of this on their economy and other aspects of life.”