S’Africa rejected the Nigerian government’s request to compensate victims of xenophobia, saying they were drug traffickers

The South African government has rejected the Nigerian government’s request to compensate its citizens who abandoned their businesses and property while fleeing xenophobic attacks in the country.

South African authorities instead say the Nigerians who fled are drug traffickers, and they are interested in knowing where their drug lair is.

Nigeria said it was collecting records of properties and businesses left behind by returnees as a basis for seeking compensation from South African authorities.

Earlier, Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, said the Federal Government had begun documenting the losses suffered by affected Nigerians to facilitate discussions on possible compensation.

However, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, rejected the proposal in a press conference on Friday, and insisted that the government would not compensate anyone for abandoned properties.

According to Ntshavheni, legally owned properties are officially registered with the relevant authorities and can be sold through the country’s property market, while buildings in informal settlements are illegal and therefore not recognized as legal property.

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“We would be interested to know where the drug dens are in Nigeria. So they can show us where they store the drugs so that we can immediately eradicate drugs in South Africa,” he said.

“Squatter camps and informal settlements are never property because they are considered illegal in this country. So, you are already breaking our laws if you tell us about a shack in an informal settlement.”

He added: “So no compensation will come from the government. Those who abandoned their property, if they are legally registered in the country, they can dispose of that property on the property market in South Africa – whether it’s movable or immovable property. And we would really appreciate being told where the drug dens are.”

Ntshavheni also revealed that the South African government had approved new measures to prevent the redevelopment of informal settlements after they have been demolished.

This latest development follows a return to xenophobic violence targeting African migrants in South Africa, forcing many Nigerians to flee the country amid fears for their safety.