The government of South Africa has refused the demand by Nigeria for compensation for citizens who were forced to abandon their businesses and properties when fleeing from fresh outbreaks of xenophobic attacks, asserting that no compensation will be given for property left behind.
This refusal comes after Nigeria took measures to record its citizens’ losses as a platform to initiate discussions about compensation from the South African government.
According to Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, the Federal Government has started to document the businesses and properties which Nigerians have abandoned because of the attacks and returned home.
However, Minister of President of South Africa, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, during an interaction with the media on Friday, stated that there would be no compensation for property left behind, adding that all legally owned property was safe according to the law of the land and can be sold through the property market.
She asserted that only legally owned properties are counted as properties, adding that structures in informal settlements are illegal properties.
In another controversial statement during a media briefing, Ntshavheni said that the government will welcome information on places where there have been allegations of criminal actions so that the government can demolish those areas.
According to her, Nigerians who have either movable or immovable properties within South Africa are at liberty to sell their properties via the legal means of selling without being compensated by the government.
Another announcement from the minister is that the South African government had approved new laws aimed at preventing any future cases of informal settlement once they are destroyed.
This has oc
curred in light of fresh attacks on African nationals, including Nigerians, who are living in certain parts of South Africa because of the xenophobic sentiments prevailing within the region.
Nigeria has been continuously noting down the damages incurred by the affected people in light of continued diplomacy between the two nations regarding this issue.
Background
An outbreak of a new xenophobic attack targeting foreigners living in South Africa started from late April on account of an increasing level of crime like drug peddling, unemployment rate, and prostitution amongst others cited by civil society organizations and citizen activist groups including March and March Movement, and Operation Dudula.
According to Statistics South Africa, there are 2.4 million foreign nationals in South Africa in 2022, which accounts for 3.7 percent of the entire population of 65 million.
The protest against these foreigners still goes on demanding the foreigners leave the country by June 30.
Is this the first time South Africa has had problems with Nigeria?
Several attacks against foreign nationals and their business interests have been experienced in South Africa over the years.
The first incident happened in 2008 where the attacks were in Alexandra, Johannesburg before spreading elsewhere in the country.
Most of the attacks targeted African immigrants from countries such as Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, and resulted in at least 62 deaths. Based on Human Rights Watch report, the fatalities included 21 South Africans, 11 Mozambicans, five Zimbabweans and three Somalis.
There was also another wave of attacks in 2015 resulting in seven fatalities including South African nationals.
The attacks took place after controversial statements made by Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini who was quoted as having urged foreigners to leave South Africa alleging that the foreigners were taking jobs that were supposed to be reserved for South Africans.
The riots have led to several South African companies working in Nigeria, such as MTN, MultiChoice, and Shoprite, closing down some of their branches for fear of possible revenge attacks.