The South African government has turned down Nigeria’s request for compensation for citizens who fled the country after renewed xenophobic attacks forced them to abandon businesses and other property.
The Nigerian government had earlier disclosed that it was compiling records of assets and businesses left behind by affected returnees as part of efforts to pursue compensation discussions with South African authorities.
Earlier in the week, Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, said the Federal Government had commenced documentation of the losses suffered by Nigerians affected by the attacks to support future engagements on compensation.
However, speaking during a press conference on Friday, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, rejected the proposal, maintaining that the government would not compensate anyone for abandoned property.
According to Ntshavheni, legally acquired properties are registered with the appropriate authorities and remain available for disposal through the country’s property market.
She argued that structures located in informal settlements do not qualify as legally recognised property because they are erected in violation of South African law.
Commenting on the issue, Ntshavheni said, “We’ll be interested to know where the drug dens of Nigerians are. So they can show us where they have been holding the drugs so that we can clean the drugs in South Africa quite urgently.”
She further stated, “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.”
Rejecting the possibility of compensation, the minister added, “So there’s no compensation that will come from 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. And we are going to seriously appreciate being told where the drug dens are.”
Ntshavheni also revealed that the South African government had approved additional measures aimed at preventing demolished informal settlements from being re-established.
The development comes amid renewed xenophobic violence directed at African migrants in South Africa, prompting many Nigerians to leave the country over growing concerns for their safety.
Nigeria had indicated that it intended to use documented evidence of abandoned businesses and properties as the basis for discussions on compensation, but South Africa has now ruled out any financial settlement while maintaining its position on property ownership under its laws.
