South African minister fires back at Shehu Sani, insists no compensation for Nigerians

By Ayobami Okerinde

South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has reaffirmed her government’s refusal to compensate Nigerians who abandoned properties while fleeing recent xenophobic attacks, declaring that she “didn’t stutter” when she first rejected the proposal.

Ntshavheni made the remark on Saturday while responding to criticism from former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, over her earlier comments.

The Nigerian government, through the Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, had announced plans to document businesses and other assets left behind by evacuated Nigerians with a view to pursuing possible compensation from the South African government.

However, speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Ntshavheni insisted that there would be no compensation from her government.

According to her, all legally owned properties in South Africa are formally registered, while structures in informal settlements are illegal and therefore not eligible for compensation.

“If you own a property in South Africa, those who leave their properties, if they are properly legally registered in the country, they can dispose of the properties in the property market in South Africa, whether it’s movable or immovable property,” Ntshavheni said.

“We’ll be interested to know where the drug dens of Nigerians are so they can show us where they’ve been holding the drugs so that we can clean the drugs in South Africa quite urgently.”

Reacting to her remarks in a post on X, Shehu Sani expressed disbelief that such comments came from a senior government official.

“This is from a SENIOR Government official and NOT a thug from the streets,” Sani wrote.

Responding directly to the former lawmaker, Ntshavheni defended her position.

“I didn’t stutter. Any form of property obtained illegally won’t be compensated for,” she wrote.