The South African government has rejected Nigeria’s plan to seek compensation for properties allegedly abandoned by Nigerians evacuated during recent xenophobic attacks, insisting that only legally registered assets are recognised under the country’s laws.
South Africa also challenged the Nigerian government to provide information on locations allegedly used for drug-related activities by Nigerians, saying such intelligence would enable authorities to combat criminal activities.
The development follows an announcement by Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Temitope Ajayi, that the Federal Government would pursue compensation for businesses and properties left behind by Nigerians who returned home under a voluntary evacuation programme prompted by renewed xenophobic violence.
Ajayi disclosed that the Nigerian mission had begun compiling records of abandoned businesses and properties, with returnees directed to provide details of their assets before leaving South Africa. He said the information would form the basis of discussions with South African authorities on possible compensation.
The envoy also dismissed claims that most Nigerians living in South Africa were undocumented, maintaining that the majority entered the country legally but were affected by delays in the renewal of immigration documents.
Responding during a press briefing on Friday, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, ruled out any compensation, stressing that legally acquired properties remain the assets of their registered owners and can be sold through the country’s property market.
According to her, the South African government has no basis for compensating individuals who abandon legally owned assets.
“If you own a property in South Africa, it is registered. If it is a house, it is registered with the Deeds Register. If you own a car, it is registered in the NATIS system. If you own a business, it is registered with the CIPC,” she said.
Ntshavheni added that owners of legally registered movable and immovable property were free to dispose of such assets through the appropriate legal channels rather than seek compensation from the government.
She also dismissed any suggestion that structures located in informal settlements could qualify for compensation, describing such settlements as illegal.
“Squatter camps and informal settlements are never properties because they are illegal in the country. So, you are already violating our law if you tell us about a shack in an informal settlement,” she stated.
The minister further called on the Nigerian government to identify locations allegedly used for drug-related activities by Nigerians in South Africa.
“We’ll be interested to know where the drug dens of Nigerians are, so they can show us where they’ve been holding the drugs so that we can clean the drugs in South Africa quite urgently,” Ntshavheni said.
Her remarks are expected to generate fresh diplomatic debate between both countries amid efforts to address recurring incidents of xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals in South Africa.
The Federal Government has so far evacuated more than 850 Nigerians from South Africa in four batches following the latest wave of xenophobic attacks.
