The South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, on Monday, tendered an unreserved apology to Nigeria over the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africa nationals in South Africa.
The apology was contained in a message sent through his Special Envoy, Jeff Rodebe , who led a team of South African diplomats to deliver the message to President Muhammmadu Buhari in Abuja
The three envoys had arrived the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja around 2.13pm, in the company of Acting South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby Monroe.
Radebe while briefing State House Correspondents, at the Presidential Villa, admitted that the South African economy had been impacted negatively by the attacks
Obviously, there is an impact of this event on the economy and that is why the President at his level deemed it necessary to send us as special envoy so that we record appropriately what steps and measures we are making as South Africa to deal with these methods.
At the end of the day, we believe that the agenda 2063 the Africa we want is one that will help not only South Africa but the whole of Africa to unite around that common agenda of ensuring that our people, especially young people must believe that the future of Africa is bright.
“So, it is the responsibility therefore not only of governments of Nigeria and South Africa but of ordinary citizens to play their part in ensuring, that these incidents do not reoccur.”
The envoys were in Abuja as part of a fence-mending tour of African countries over the increasing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans living in South Africa.
President Muhammadu Buhari, while receiving the team, went down memory lane, recalling roles played by Nigeria in engendering majority rule in South Africa, and ending the apartheid segregationist policy.
According to the President “ Going back to historical antecedents, we made great sacrifices for South Africa to become a free state. I was a junior officer to Gen. Murtala Muhammad, and Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo. They were not operating in a democracy, but they got Nigerians to support them in the bid to seeing a free South Africa.”
“Our leadership was quite committed to the cause. We made sacrifices, which younger people of today may not know. During my last visit to South Africa with the late President Robert Mugabe, it was very emotional, as Mugabe spoke about Nigeria’s contribution to free South Africa,” he noted.
The President extended appreciation to President Ramaphosa, through the Special Envoy, “for coming to explain to us what happened in South Africa recently, leading to killing and displacement of foreigners.”
President Buhari responded to profuse apologies from the South African President, pledging that relationship between the two countries “will be solidified,” while describing the xenophobic attacks as “very unfortunate.”
Radebe apologized on behalf of his President for what he called “acts of criminality and violence” that recently occurred, adding that “such do not represent our value system, nor those of the larger number of South Africans.”
He said South Africa was an integral part of Africa and is fully committed to peace and integration of the continent.
The Special Envoy disclosed that 10 people died during the attacks – two Zimbabweans and eight South Africans, adding that “ there was no Nigerian casualty.”
He added that South Africa remains eternally grateful for the role Nigeria played in ending apartheid and hoped that the coming visit of the Nigerian President would solidify the relationship between the two countries once again.
Rodebe was silent on the issue of compensation but stated that “ under the South African laws, registered companies operating in South Africa are expected to take insurance policies in anticipation of issues like this “
He, however, disclosed that such issues will be part of the agenda during President Muhammmadu Buhari’s State Visit to South Africa from the 3rd of October, this year.
“During President Buhari’s state visit to South Africa, there will be detailed discussions which will be held there. I do understand that the issue of compensation, restitution is part of the agenda items in the draft, the Nigerian government has presented to South Africa. So I think we should wait until October 3rd to see how that unfolds. But I can indicate as a lawyer that the South African laws require that all registered companies must have public insurance in terms of things of this nature. But like I said that meeting will just be held.”
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