Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: L.Imafidon
Pretoria, South Africa – July 4, 2026 – The South African government has rejected calls for compensation over recent attacks on foreign-owned businesses, stating it will not make any payments for damages linked to the violence and instead urging Nigerian authorities to provide intelligence on alleged drug operations involving Nigerian nationals in the country.
The position was made public on Friday, July 3, 2026, by Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Minister in the Presidency of South Africa, during a briefing in Pretoria addressing diplomatic concerns raised after a wave of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign-owned shops and businesses.
According to Ntshavheni, the South African government does not accept responsibility for compensating victims of the violence, insisting that security issues within the country must be addressed through law enforcement rather than financial settlements.
“We will pay no compensation,” she said. “Tell us where the drug dens of Nigerians are so we can clean the drugs from our country urgently.”
Her remarks come amid heightened diplomatic sensitivity between Nigeria and South Africa following repeated incidents of violence targeting foreign nationals, particularly in urban and township areas where tensions over employment, crime and economic competition have historically flared.
The South African government has in the past faced criticism over its handling of xenophobic violence, which has periodically led to looting, destruction of property and displacement of foreign business owners, including Nigerians operating retail shops and small enterprises.
In recent years, both governments have engaged in diplomatic exchanges aimed at preventing further escalation, with Nigeria frequently calling for the protection of its citizens and compensation for losses incurred during attacks. South African authorities, however, have consistently maintained that criminal incidents should be handled through domestic legal and security systems rather than state compensation mechanisms.
Ntshavheni’s latest statement reflects a firm stance by Pretoria, signalling that its priority remains law enforcement cooperation and intelligence sharing rather than financial restitution for affected foreign nationals.
The demand for information on alleged Nigerian-operated drug networks is expected to add further tension to already delicate diplomatic relations between both countries. South African officials have previously expressed concerns about transnational criminal activities, while Nigerian authorities have repeatedly urged caution against broad generalisations linking entire communities to criminal behaviour.
Observers note that the exchange underscores the complex relationship between the two largest economies in Africa, which are both key partners in trade, migration and continental diplomacy under the African Union framework.
Nigeria’s government is yet to issue an official response to the latest remarks, but diplomatic channels between both countries are expected to remain active as discussions continue over the safety of citizens and the handling of cross-border criminal allegations.
The incident adds to a long history of intermittent xenophobic violence in South Africa, which has periodically strained relations with other African nations and prompted calls for stronger regional mechanisms to protect migrants and ensure accountability for attacks on foreign-owned properties.
As tensions persist, analysts say both governments face increasing pressure to balance domestic security concerns with broader obligations under regional integration agreements that promote free movement and protection of African citizens across borders.
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