Nigeria’s Acting Ambassador to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, speaks with DANIEL AYANTOYE on xenophobic tensions, allegations of crimes involving Nigerians in South Africa, and ongoing efforts to address negative perceptions and strengthen diplomatic relations between both countries
recent viral clips on xenophobic attacks in South Africa have become a cause for concern for Nigerians. What is the situation?
Some of the images in circulation didn’t depict the true situation, and we are trying to manage the matter so as not to put our people, particularly those who are not here, in panic. We have some parents who have their children schooling in South Africa who, when they see such images, begin to fret. Yes, there were demonstrations, and all the foreigners tried to protect themselves and their businesses. We must say that the demonstration went without any form of violence, and I can confirm that no Nigerian has been killed and no Nigerian shops have been looted. Nobody was attacked because it happened under the watchful eyes of the police, who guided them. What created some fears is the anti-foreigner and xenophobic rhetoric, but beyond that, no physical injury was inflicted on anybody.
Several videos have surfaced showing groups in South Africa confronting and driving out foreigners, including Nigerians, over allegations that they are taking jobs meant for South Africans. What is your reaction to this?
These are separate groups coming together under the aegis of what they call March and March, and it is being led by one lady called Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, whom I heard is the daughter of the former President of South Africa. So, under this group, you have different amorphous groups who come together to do that. But the question is: can they justify their actions? Many Nigerians are self-employed. An employer will not leave a skilled person for an unskilled individual. Employment is at the prerogative of the employer. What kind of skill do the protesters have that will enable an employer to engage them? An average person who wants his business to be successful and make profit will go for the right skills that can help him. I am not saying they don’t have skilled people in South Africa; they have plenty of them. But the category of these protesters, what kind of skill sets do they have to be employable? If you find a Nigerian who is highly skilled in trades such as vulcanising, plumbing, carpentry and others, and he sets up his business in a corner, people who lack such skills may simply see him as successful without recognising the hard work and expertise behind it. You cannot give what you do not have.
There are also claims that foreigners are responsible for many of the crimes committed in South Africa, with Nigerians often accused of constituting a large number of illegal immigrants in the country. What is your response to these allegations?
I don’t have the statistics to support the claim that foreigners commit most of the crimes in South Africa. I also do not believe Nigerians are among the top 10 nationalities with the highest number of illegal immigrants in the country. In fact, immigration officials confirmed to me during a meeting last year that Nigeria was not even among the top 10 countries with the highest number of illegal migrants in South Africa. However, if you ask whether there are Nigerians living illegally in South Africa, the answer is yes. As I often say, every country has laws and established mechanisms to regulate immigration. These laws determine who enters the country, who is permitted to reside there, and the duration of their stay. One thing is clear: the Nigerian government does not encourage illegal immigration. That is why the government has consistently advised Nigerians living abroad to be law-abiding and ensure they reside legally in their host countries. Doing so helps them avoid the unpleasant consequences associated with illegal immigration.
Why do you think there is such a high level of hostility towards Nigerians in South Africa, as reflected in recurring viral videos, to the extent that many people now see the country as an unfavourable destination?
Before I arrived here, I had heard a plethora of stories about Nigerians being hated, what we call a low perception of Nigerians in South Africa. There is generally a low perception of Nigerians in South Africa, and that is one of our tasks here in terms of ensuring that we correct this negativity. Even if it is difficult to stamp it out completely, we should be able to reduce it to the barest minimum. That is why we always admonish our countrymen and women to help us by engaging only in legitimate business. One thing in South Africa is that if anybody commits a crime today, there is a high probability that the person will be labelled Nigerian, even if that person is not Nigerian.
Why is that so?
It is just the perception. It is not something that started today; it has been there for several years. That is why we have always appealed for proper conduct. We do not want anybody to put Nigeria in a negative spotlight. We are trying our best to reduce that low perception to the barest minimum. One ironic aspect is that despite the low perception, the number of churches in South Africa is something you may not find in many other countries.
So, we are preaching to them, yet they are hating us?
Yes, ironically, that could be termed the situation.
Some people have also argued that part of the resentment stems from allegations that some Nigerian men have poorly handled their relationships and marriages with South African women. How valid do you think this claim is?
Which is why I would also like to address Nigerians on the issue of marriage. Our nationals and other foreigners should be truthful in whatever they engage in. They should not marry for benefits or ulterior motives. Marriage in South Africa is somewhat expensive because you have to pay for cows. If you have decided that you love a lady and want to marry her, please do the needful and legalise it. But if you are not ready to legalise it, be truthful and let them know your position from the beginning. Do not be fixated on getting residency papers through marriage, so that we can further curb the negativity directed at Nigerians.
It appears that the South African government is not doing enough to address the situation through the enforcement of laws that are believed to be against xenophobia.
We expect more from the South African government in terms of being proactive and ensuring that when a crime is committed, it is seen that the crime is investigated and brought to a conclusion. I must tell you that they have one of the best constitutions in terms of the protection of human rights, but the application and implementation of the law is where we have issues. That is the area where I would like to enjoin the South African Government to do more, ensuring that when a crime is committed, the matter is investigated and the culprits are brought to book.
Findings have shown that these laws are well implemented when their citizens are the victims but not applied when foreigners are victims. What can you say about that?
Perception is another key factor. When people perceive that the system is not doing much in terms of the dispensation of justice and how it responds, it becomes a problem. We have been engaging them to ensure that they take this perception seriously and apply the same level of commitment to prosecution in cases involving Nigerians or other nationals as they do for their own citizens. When incidents occur, there are always statements that the judiciary is in charge and that there is no interference. Yes, we agree, but the judicial system can be strengthened to ensure that justice is dispensed as quickly and transparently as possible. As I mentioned earlier, they have strong human rights laws, but we want to see the same level of commitment used in pursuing cases involving South Africans applied to cases involving foreigners. We have done a lot of engagement in this regard. We have met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discussed this issue, and they have assured us. We are following up to ensure that the right things are done.
Some believe the alleged ‘coronation’ of a king by the Igbo community was responsible for the resurgence of the attacks. Is this true?
Concerning that isolated incident, we have made very strenuous efforts up to the level of the South African Government as well as higher institutions because we understand the implications for the bilateral relationship between the two countries. We reached out by apologising and by letting the government know that the issue may have been misunderstood. The information I have was that it was a cultural gathering, but of course, it was shared on social media by the organisers. Immediately I became aware of it, we swung into action by reaching out to various arms of the South African Government and institutions. I travelled to a kingdom to personally apologise to the king who might have felt insulted by the images and their interpretation. I went there with what tradition demands, which is two hefty cows and one bull, and apologised to them on behalf of Nigeria. I would not attribute the protest to this incident because xenophobia has been present for several years. That is why we continue to advise our people to be sensitive to local laws and customs, as South Africa is a highly traditional society. What may seem insignificant to you may mean a lot to them.
A few days ago, the Federal Government revealed plans to evacuate Nigerians willing to return home from South Africa, and 130 people were said to have registered. What is the current situation?
I can confirm to you that the figure is rising by the day in terms of those who want to return to Nigeria. We call it voluntary repatriation, and one thing you should understand is that there are some Nigerians who are willing to return but do not have the means to pay for tickets. That is why the Nigerian government deemed it fit to carry out this exercise. The logistics are still being worked out in Abuja. What the mission is doing here is to collate the figures of those who are willing. You know repatriation is not a walk in the park; it is a multi-stakeholder exercise, and the government is committed to it. Also, as I said earlier, we do not want people to become illegal in any country where they may find themselves.
