South Africa will not compensate Nigerians who fled the country during recent xenophobic violence, according to Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, the country's minister in the presidency. She said only legally registered property receives legal protection.
The stance came after Temitope Ajayi, Nigeria's acting high commissioner to South Africa, indicated that Nigeria was exploring ways to demand compensation for citizens who lost businesses and assets while returning home as tensions escalated.
At a press briefing on Friday, Ntshavheni rejected calls for the South African government to pay out for property abandoned by departing residents. She drew a distinction between formally registered property and structures in informal settlements, which she described as illegal and unrecognised by the state.
Migrants with South African property should sell their assets through the formal property market instead of seeking government compensation, Ntshavheni advised.
Her remarks sparked backlash from Shehu Sani, a former Nigerian senator who represented Kaduna Central. "This is from a senior government official and not a thug from the streets," Sani posted on social media.
Ntshavheni stood by her position. "I didn't stutter.
Any form of property obtained illegally won't be compensated for," she said.
The exchange reflects deepening diplomatic friction between Nigeria and South Africa since protests targeting undocumented migrants intensified. Nigerian authorities have voiced alarm about citizen safety and the destruction of businesses and property, while South African officials maintain that immigration and property issues must follow the country's legal processes.
Ntshavheni also pressed the Nigerian government to share details about locations connected to drug-related crimes. Such information would assist South African authorities in their investigations and law enforcement efforts, she noted.
