The South African government has rejected Nigeria’s request for compensation for citizens who abandoned their businesses and properties after fleeing renewed xenophobic attacks.
Nigeria recently disclosed that it was documenting businesses, homes and other assets left behind by affected citizens as part of efforts to engage the South African government on possible compensation.
Earlier this week, Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, said the Federal Government had begun compiling records of losses suffered by Nigerians who returned home following the attacks.
According to Ajayi, the documentation exercise is intended to support discussions with South African authorities on compensation for victims who were forced to abandon their investments and livelihoods because of security concerns.
However, speaking during a press briefing on Friday, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, dismissed the proposal, insisting that the government would not compensate anyone for abandoned properties.
She argued that legally owned properties are registered with the appropriate authorities and can be sold through the country’s property market, while structures located in informal settlements are illegal and therefore do not qualify for compensation.
“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,” Ntshavheni said.
She further stated: **“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.”
Reaffirming the government’s position, the minister added:“So there’s no compensation that will come from government. Those who leave their properties, if they are properly legally registered in the country, they 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 announced that the South African government had approved additional measures to stop demolished informal settlements from being rebuilt.
The development comes amid renewed xenophobic attacks targeting African migrants in parts of South Africa, forcing many Nigerians to flee over fears for their safety.
Successive outbreaks of xenophobic violence have continued to strain diplomatic relations between Abuja and Pretoria, with Nigerian-owned businesses frequently targeted during periods of unrest.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly urged South African authorities to protect its citizens and safeguard their investments.
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