A South African cabinet minister has publicly rejected demands made by former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani for compensation to be paid to Nigerian nationals affected by violence in South Africa, describing the request as without legal or diplomatic foundation.
Minister Dismisses Sani's Demands
The minister, speaking during a media briefing in Pretoria, stated that his government had no obligation to provide individual compensation to Nigerian citizens following incidents of xenophobic violence that have occurred intermittently across South African cities over the past several years. The official emphasised that existing bilateral agreements between South Africa and Nigeria did not include provisions for such payments.
Shehu Sani, who served as a senator representing Kaduna Central constituency in Nigeria's National Assembly, had publicly called for South Africa to compensate Nigerian victims of attacks that took place in Johannesburg and Durban. His statement drew sharp criticism from Pretoria, with the minister describing it as an attempt to exert diplomatic pressure through public channels.
Background of the Dispute
The exchange between Sani and South African officials centres on violence that erupted in 2019, when mobs attacked foreign-owned businesses and residences in parts of Johannesburg. Several Nigerian nationals were displaced, and some property was destroyed. Nigerian community leaders in South Africa have long sought formal acknowledgment and redress from the South African government.
Vanguard News, a Nigerian newspaper that first reported Sani's demands, noted that the former senator had written directly to South African authorities requesting compensation on behalf of affected Nigerian families. The letter reportedly outlined specific financial figures for each family affected, though the South African minister dismissed these figures as arbitrary and unsupported by evidence.
Government Response and Legal Position
South Africa's foreign affairs ministry issued a statement confirming that no compensation scheme for foreign nationals existed under current South African law. The statement noted that while the government condemned all forms of violence against foreigners, individual financial claims would need to be pursued through the country's legal system rather than through diplomatic negotiations.
The minister added that South Africa had instead focused on strengthening law enforcement responses and community integration programmes to prevent future incidents. He pointed to a 2019 initiative that increased police patrols in areas with high concentrations of foreign nationals as evidence of the government's commitment to protecting all residents.
Impact on Nigerian Communities
For Nigerian nationals living and working in South Africa's major urban centres, the dispute highlights ongoing uncertainty about their legal status and protections. Community leaders in Johannesburg told Vanguard News that many affected families have struggled to recover losses since the 2019 attacks, with some choosing to return to Nigeria rather than remain in South Africa.
The lack of a formal compensation mechanism means that individual Nigerians seeking redress must navigate South Africa's court system, a process that many say they cannot afford given legal costs and the complexity of property ownership documentation. The Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria has previously offered limited consular assistance, but officials say diplomatic channels alone cannot resolve civil claims.
Bilateral Relations Under Strain
The public exchange threatens to complicate already delicate diplomatic relations between the two largest economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria withdrew its high commissioner to South Africa temporarily following the 2019 violence, though relations have since normalised at the governmental level.
Diplomatic observers note that the current dispute differs from the earlier crisis in that it involves a former elected official rather than sitting government members. Nevertheless, analysts say the statement from Sani resonates with public sentiment in Nigeria, where images of attacks on Nigerian businesses drew significant media coverage and outrage.
What Happens Next
The South African minister indicated that his government would not entertain further public demands for compensation and expected the matter to be considered closed. However, legal advocates for affected Nigerian families say they are preparing to file civil claims through South African courts in the coming months.
Nigerian community organisations in Johannesburg have scheduled a meeting for next week to discuss next steps, including whether to pursue collective legal action. The outcome of any court proceedings will likely determine whether individual compensation becomes available to those who lost property during the 2019 violence, regardless of the government's stated position.
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He pointed to a 2019 initiative that increased police patrols in areas with high concentrations of foreign nationals as evidence of the government's commitment to protecting all residents.Impact on Nigerian CommunitiesFor Nigerian nationals living and working in South Africa's major urban centres, the dispute highlights ongoing uncertainty about their legal status and protections. Nevertheless, analysts say the statement from Sani resonates with public sentiment in Nigeria, where images of attacks on Nigerian businesses drew significant media coverage and outrage.What Happens NextThe South African minister indicated that his government would not entertain further public demands for compensation and expected the matter to be considered closed.
