South Africa has ruled out any form of compensation for Nigerians and nationals of other countries for losses suffered during xenophobic attacks.
The country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Naledi Pandor, said on Thursday that payment of compensation was not in the country’s law.
This appears to be South Africa’s response to demands by Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama reiterated the demand for compensation on Thursday in an interview with reporters at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
“It is just those two key issues, the compensation payment and what security mechanism be put in place to make sure that these kinds of attacks do not recur,” the minister said.
Pandor, however while stating the position of his country during an interview with eNCA, a South African outfit, said South Africans believe many Nigerians are “harming our young people.”
Asked if the country’s security agencies had helped in protecting foreigners including Nigerians, she responded: “I would appreciate them in helping us as well to address the belief our people have and the reality that there are many persons from Nigeria dealing in drugs in our country.
“I believe that Nigerian nationals are involved in human trafficking and other abusive practices.
“These kind of assistance of ensuring that such persons do not come to our country will be of great assistance to our nation.”