The South African government has reaffirmed its gratitude to Nigeria for the country’s historic role in the struggle against apartheid, while pledging to strengthen bilateral relations amid renewed concerns over attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ELLAN.png")
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Summer-IDRI-Masterclass.jpg")
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, gave the assurance on Monday during a meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, in Abuja.
Lamola said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had sent him to Nigeria with a special message for President Bola Tinubu as diplomatic tensions continued to rise over recurring xenophobic and mob attacks against Nigerians.
Although Tinubu delegated Enikanolaiye to receive the South African delegation, the meeting focused on the attacks, their humanitarian consequences and measures needed to protect Nigerians and preserve the longstanding relationship between Africa’s two largest economies.
Lamola described Nigeria’s support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle as historic, saying the sacrifices made by Nigerians would never be forgotten.
“We remain deeply indebted to the people of Nigeria for their sacrifice,” he said.
The minister said the South African government remained firmly opposed to xenophobia, racism, discrimination, homophobia, violence and every other form of intolerance.
He, however, maintained that South Africa had a sovereign responsibility to enforce its immigration laws and address criminal activities within its borders, including drug trafficking, internet fraud, irregular migration and other offences.
Lamola said migration had become a continental challenge requiring collective action under the African Union framework for orderly and regular migration.
“We believe that Nigeria and South Africa have a shared responsibility to respond to these challenges within the African continent,” he stated.
He added that the details of Ramaphosa’s message to Tinubu would be discussed during a closed-door session.
Responding, Enikanolaiye said Tinubu had directed him to engage the South African delegation openly on the recurring attacks against Nigerians, warning that the development threatened the historic relationship between both countries.
He urged the South African authorities to take decisive steps to stop what he described as recurring Afrophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African migrants.
According to the minister, official records showed that 98 Nigerians had been killed in mob actions and hate-related attacks in South Africa since 2022, while five Nigerians had reportedly lost their lives in similar circumstances in 2026.
He added that some Nigerians recently repatriated from South Africa believed that the actual number of victims could be higher than the figures officially documented.
Enikanolaiye stressed that Nigeria did not support criminality and would not defend any citizen involved in drug trafficking, fraud or other unlawful activities.
He insisted, however, that anyone accused of committing an offence must be arrested, prosecuted and punished through lawful judicial procedures rather than subjected to mob violence.
“Nigeria will not support drug traffickers or any criminal activity, but those accused of crimes must be treated in accordance with the rule of law, South Africa’s Constitution and international human rights standards,” he said.
The minister also questioned the conduct of South African security agencies during some of the attacks, noting that videos and eyewitness accounts had allegedly shown police officers failing to intervene while victims were assaulted.
He said the inability or unwillingness of security personnel to protect those under attack raised serious questions about state responsibility, particularly where the victims were legally resident in South Africa.
Enikanolaiye disclosed that nearly 1,500 Nigerians had been repatriated from South Africa in 2026 following the attacks and destruction of their businesses and properties.
He described the humanitarian consequences as heartbreaking, recalling the condition in which women, children and elderly Nigerians returned home after losing their livelihoods.
“I shed tears when I received the first batch of evacuees. I saw children, women and the elderly returning home with almost nothing after their properties had been looted and destroyed. That is not the Africa we want,” he said.
Despite the tension, Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining cordial relations with South Africa and expressed confidence that sustained diplomatic engagement would help restore trust and strengthen cooperation.
Both ministers agreed that Nigeria and South Africa must continue to engage through dialogue, protect the rights of their citizens and uphold the principles of African solidarity and unity.
The book also examines Nigeria's legal ecosystem, focusing on the LPELR and NBA AI Guidelines. As a bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE eBook titled: How to Use the AI Features in LegalPedia and LawPavilion.
Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating:
"....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic."
How to Order:
📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
_______________________________________________________________________
“Order Justice Omolaye-Ajileye’s Electronic Evidence Books Now” — Essential Guides On Evidence Act, Case Law And Digital Proof
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
