The South African government says it will not pay compensation to Nigerians who abandoned businesses and homes during recent xenophobic attacks.
At least 859 Nigerians have been evacuated since March, when a group launched protests targeting foreigners and issued a June 30, 2026 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
Although South African authorities have distanced themselves from the group, critics say the government has not done enough to protect foreign nationals.
Nigeria had earlier said it would seek compensation. Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, confirmed that Abuja was already documenting losses to support possible talks.
But Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, dismissed the demand at a press conference on Friday.
She said properties that are legally registered can be sold through South Africa’s property market, whether movable or immovable. She added that structures in informal settlements are not recognized as legal property.
“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,” Ntshavheni said.
She also linked the attacks to illegal activities, stating: “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.”
Ntshavheni further announced new government measures aimed at preventing informal settlements from being rebuilt after demolition.
The diplomatic standoff comes as more Nigerians continue to return home, with the latest evacuation flight landing in Lagos this week.
Key points:
- Evacuations: 859+ Nigerians evacuated since March 2026
- SA position: No compensation. Legal properties can be sold, illegal structures won’t be recognized
- Nigeria’s position: Documenting losses to push for compensation talks
- New measures: SA to block re-establishment of demolished informal settlements
