The South African Government has rejected Nigeria’s request for compensation for Nigerians who abandoned businesses and properties following their evacuation during renewed xenophobic attacks in the country.
The Nigerian Government had earlier indicated its intention to seek compensation for affected citizens who fled South Africa after violent attacks targeting African migrants.
Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, had disclosed that authorities were compiling records of businesses and properties left behind by evacuated Nigerians to facilitate discussions with the South African Government on possible compensation.
However, speaking during a press conference on Friday, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, ruled out any possibility of government compensation.
According to Ntshavheni, owners of legally registered properties are free to dispose of their assets through the country’s property market, while structures in informal settlements do not qualify for compensation because they are regarded as illegal.
“There’s no compensation that will come from the 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,” she said.
The minister further challenged the Nigerian Government to provide information on locations allegedly linked to drug-related activities involving some Nigerian nationals.
“We’ll be interested to know where the drug dens of Nigerians are. They can show us where they have been holding the drugs so that we can clean the drugs in South Africa quite urgently,” Ntshavheni stated.
She maintained that structures erected in squatter camps and informal settlements could not be recognised as legal properties 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,” she added.
Ntshavheni also disclosed that the South African Government had approved additional measures aimed at preventing the rebuilding of informal settlements after demolition exercises.
The latest development comes amid ongoing diplomatic concerns following the evacuation of Nigerians affected by xenophobic violence in South Africa, with discussions over the welfare and protection of foreign nationals continuing between both countries.
AIV NEWS will continue to monitor developments and provide verified updates as they unfold.
