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

SOUTH AFRICA has rejected Nigeria’s move to seek compensation for citizens who lost access to their homes, businesses and other assets after fleeing renewed xenophobic attacks, with its government instead demanding information about alleged drug dens linked to Nigerians.

The Nigerian government had begun documenting businesses and properties abandoned by returnees following the latest violence against African migrants. According to Nigeria’s acting high commissioner to South Africa, the records were intended to support discussions with Pretoria on possible compensation for affected citizens.

But at a press briefing on Friday, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, dismissed the proposal outright, arguing that the government had no basis to compensate those who left the country.

Instead, Ntshavheni turned attention to allegations of drug-related activities, calling on Nigeria to identify locations allegedly being used as drug dens by Nigerians.

READ ALSO: South African politician labels Nigerians ‘horrible’ during repatriation farewell

“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.

The minister also maintained that structures in informal settlements cannot be regarded as property because such settlements are illegal under South African law. She said owners of legally registered movable or immovable property are free to dispose of their assets through the country’s property market, insisting that the South African government would not provide compensation.

Her remarks come despite Nigeria’s request focusing on citizens displaced by xenophobic violence, a recurring issue that has strained relations between the two countries over the years.

Ntshavheni further disclosed that the South African government has approved measures to stop informal settlements from being rebuilt after demolition.

International relations analysts have, however, lampooned the South African minister, stressing that her response shows that she is more interested in severing the good 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.”