South African officials have rejected demands from Nigeria regarding compensation for properties deserted by individuals fleeing recent bouts of xenophobic violence. Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, the Minister in the Presidency, stated that the state will only recognize legally registered assets. During a press event on Friday, she emphasized that any legitimate property owner has the right to sell their holdings through standard market channels rather than requesting government payouts.
Ntshavheni noted that houses, vehicles, and businesses are tracked through official systems like the Deeds Register and CIPC. She categorically ruled out compensation for structures in informal settlements, labeling such dwellings as illegal. In a controversial addition to her remarks, the Minister challenged Nigerian officials to pinpoint the locations of alleged drug dens so that local authorities could take immediate action against criminal activity.
These comments follow the Nigerian government’s recent announcement to seek redress for its citizens. Acting High Commissioner Temitope Ajayi previously stated that returnees were being asked to document their lost assets to facilitate future compensation claims. Nigeria has already evacuated over 850 citizens from South Africa across four separate flights in response to the regional unrest. Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed that the government is continuing diplomatic efforts to support those impacted by the violence.
