The South African government has described Nigeria’s decision to suspend official visits to South Africa and boycott legislative activities hosted by South African authorities as “unfortunate,” following renewed reports of anti-immigrant protests and xenophobic violence targeting Nigerians and other African nationals.
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, said the decision had not, at this stage, affected the broader bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Lamola made the comments in an interview with SABC News while responding to Nigeria’s decision to temporarily withdraw participation in official parliamentary engagements with South African authorities.
According to the minister, the South African government had not received any formal communication from the Nigerian government regarding the suspension.
“What I’ve read is that it’s the National Assembly of Nigeria that says they are suspending any form of participation or visits. But our understanding, we have not received any formal or official communication in that regard,” Lamola said.
He expressed concern that the development could potentially affect relations between Nigeria and South Africa, describing both countries as major powers whose cooperation was important to the African continent.
“And it does not, at this stage, affect the bilateral relations between the two countries. It will be very unfortunate if that will be, because these are the two big giants of the African continent that need to work together,” he said.
Lamola stressed that Pretoria remained willing to engage with Nigerian authorities over concerns surrounding the safety and welfare of Nigerians living in South Africa.
He recalled discussions held during his previous visit to Nigeria, saying the two governments had addressed a number of challenges involving Nigerian nationals resident in South Africa.
“We raised the challenges that we have with some of the Nigerian nationals in South Africa, some of them creating enclaves in Sunnyside and in some parts of Johannesburg and some parts of the country,” he said.
The minister also disclosed that Nigerian authorities had previously provided the South African government with a list containing the names of approximately 100 Nigerians reportedly killed in the country.
According to Lamola, South African authorities had verified the list and remained prepared to work with Nigeria to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
“And they gave us a list of about 100 Nigerians that they said were killed in South Africa, which we have verified,” he said.
Lamola added that Pretoria was open to further discussions with Nigerian authorities regarding the circumstances of the deaths and the identities of those responsible.
“We remain open to engage with the Nigerian authorities to deal with those issues of the list, how those people were killed or murdered, and what were the reasons, and so forth,” he said.
Nigeria Suspends Parliamentary Engagements
The Nigerian National Assembly announced the suspension of official visits and legislative engagements involving South Africa in a statement issued on Friday by the spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi.
The directive was approved by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.
It applies to members of the National Assembly, parliamentary committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff.
Under the directive, Nigerian lawmakers and officials are to suspend official visits to South Africa and participation in conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary exchanges, meetings and other legislative activities organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by South African legislative authorities.
The suspension also extends to virtual legislative engagements.
The National Assembly said the decision followed growing concerns over reports of renewed xenophobic violence in South Africa, including allegations that Nigerians had been killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon businesses, homes, investments and other property.
The lawmakers expressed concern that such incidents had persisted despite repeated appeals by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to South African authorities to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and ensure that perpetrators of violence were brought to justice.
The parliamentary suspension will remain in force until further notice. The National Assembly, however, indicated that the measure could be reviewed depending on developments and the response of the South African authorities.
Diplomatic Relations Remain Intact
Despite the suspension of parliamentary engagements, the Nigerian National Assembly stressed that its decision should not be interpreted as an attempt to sever Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people relationship with South Africa.
The legislature acknowledged the importance of continued parliamentary diplomacy and inter-legislative cooperation between the two countries but insisted that such engagements must be underpinned by mutual respect and a shared commitment to protecting human life, property and lawful economic activity.
The position reflects the delicate balance facing both countries. Nigeria and South Africa maintain extensive political, economic, diplomatic and people-to-people relations, with citizens of both countries playing significant roles in commerce, education, investment and other areas across the continent.
However, tensions surrounding xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals have repeatedly strained relations between Abuja and Pretoria.
Nigerian citizens have, over the years, raised concerns about attacks, intimidation, destruction of businesses and other forms of hostility in South Africa. South African authorities, on the other hand, have repeatedly had to respond to concerns over criminal activities and competition for economic opportunities involving foreign nationals.
The latest development has therefore renewed calls for both governments to address the underlying issues through sustained diplomatic engagement and effective law enforcement.
Pressure on Pretoria to Protect Foreign Nationals
Lamola’s remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of the treatment of Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.
The South African government faces pressure to demonstrate that foreign nationals can live, work and operate businesses without being subjected to violence or intimidation, while also addressing legitimate concerns about crime and immigration through lawful and non-violent means.
For Nigeria, the safety of its citizens abroad remains a significant diplomatic concern. The National Assembly’s decision sends a strong signal that parliamentary and governmental cooperation cannot be separated from the protection of Nigerian citizens and their legitimate interests.
The suspension of official legislative engagements could therefore serve as diplomatic pressure on South African authorities to intensify efforts to prevent xenophobic attacks, investigate reported killings and prosecute those responsible.
At the same time, Lamola’s emphasis on continued engagement suggests that Pretoria is keen to prevent the latest dispute from developing into a broader diplomatic crisis.
The immediate challenge for both governments will be to maintain their strategic relationship while responding decisively to concerns about the safety of Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
For Nigeria and South Africa, cooperation remains important not only to their respective national interests but also to wider African diplomacy. Addressing xenophobic violence through accountability, dialogue and effective protection of citizens could help prevent recurring tensions from undermining the relationship between two of the continent’s most influential countries.
