‘WE WON’T PAY’: South Africa rejects compensation for evacuated Nigerians’ assets
The South African government has firmly ruled out any form of financial compensation for Nigerians who left their properties and assets behind after being evacuated from the country following recent waves of xenophobic unrest.
Pretoria maintained that assets acquired illegally or located within informal settlements do not qualify for reimbursement under South African law.
‘We will not pay’ – Presidency
Reaffirming the government’s hardline stance, South Africa’s minister in the presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, dismissed any suggestions that the state would compensate affected Nigerian nationals.
The minister’s declaration was a direct response to comments made by Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, who had indicated that Abuja was exploring diplomatic avenues to secure compensation for citizens who lost or abandoned their livelihoods during the evacuation.
Addressing journalists at a media briefing, Ntshavheni insisted there was no legal basis for such demands.
“All legitimate properties in South Africa are formally registered with the relevant authorities. Structures in informal settlements are illegal and are not recognized under the law,” Ntshavheni stated.
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She advised affected migrants holding legal titles to liquidate their assets independently, rather than expecting a government buyout. “People with legitimate properties should sell them in the property market,” she added, emphasizing that the state would not take responsibility for abandoned assets.
Outrage in Nigeria as stance sparks backlash
The minister’s uncompromising remarks have triggered strong reactions in Nigeria. Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, took to social media to express shock at the tone of the South African official.
“This is from a SENIOR Government official and NOT a thug from the streets,” Sani wrote, condemning the lack of diplomatic empathy.
Unmoved by the backlash, Ntshavheni doubled down on her statement, firing back: “I didn’t stutter. Any form of property obtained illegally won’t be compensated for.”
Bilateral friction deepens over crime and xenophobia
Beyond the property dispute, Minister Ntshavheni renewed South Africa’s call for Abuja to share intelligence regarding locations allegedly used for illicit drug operations within South Africa, arguing that such information is vital for tackling cross-border organized crime.
This latest diplomatic row adds fresh strain to the already fragile relations between the continent’s two economic powerhouses.
Bilateral ties hit a new low following recent xenophobic attacks, where businesses and properties belonging to foreign nationals—predominantly Nigerians—were looted, vandalized, and burned across major South African cities. The violence forced the Nigerian government to launch a state-assisted voluntary evacuation program, flying hundreds of its citizens back home.
While Pretoria previously pledged to beef up security, prosecute perpetrators, and work through joint diplomatic channels to protect foreign nationals, this latest stance on compensation threatens to derail ongoing reconciliation efforts.
