South Africa has criticised Nigeria
for recalling its ambassadors from
the country following the spate of
xenophobic attacks, which left no
fewer than seven people dead .
A statement from Foreign Affairs
Ministry said
Acting High
Commissioner Martin Cobham and
Deputy High Commissioner Uche
Ajulu-Okeke were on Saturday
recalled for consultations.
But , South Africa ’s Department of
International Relations and Co-
operation ’s Spokesperson Clayson
Monyela said the decision to
withdraw the two was an
unfortunate and regrettable step .
“ If this action is based on the
incidents of attacks on foreign
nationals in some parts of our
country , it would be curious for a
sisterly country to want to exploit
such a painful episode for
whatever agenda, ” he said .
Monyela , however , added that
South Africa would not withdraw
its high commissioner in Nigeria
to reciprocate the action .
He said the South African
government was not sure why the
ambassador was recalled .
“ This stage , we are not sure which
action by the South African
government the Nigerian
government is protesting. It ’s
important to underscore the fact
that it’ s only Nigeria that has
taken this step.
A Nigerian delegation , which
attended an Africa -Asia Summit in
Indonesia alongside Deputy
President Cyril Ramaphosa last
week had at no stage made their
intentions known about
withdrawing their ambassadors .
“ South Africa remained committed
to creating a strong bond and
bilateral relations with Nigeria.
“ It is for this reason that when 84
of our citizens perished on
Nigerian soil , we did not blame the
Nigerian government for the
deaths and more than nine
months delay in the repatriation of
the bodies of our fallen
compatriots , or for the fact that
when these bodies eventually
returned , they were in a state that
they could not be touched or
viewed as required by our burial
practice , ” said Monyela .
The 84 were part of a group of 116
that were killed when a guest
house of the Synagogue Church of
All Nations, headed by TB Joshua ,
collapsed in September last year.
Monyela said South Africa would
raise its concerns through
diplomatic channels with the new
Nigerian administration , which will
assume office next month .
He said his country remained
committed to maintaining friendly
relations with Nigeria.
Seven people were killed in a wave
of anti -immigrant violence
centered on areas of Durban and
Johannesburg .
South Africa has been criticised by
several governments, including
China , Nigeria and Zimbabwe, for
failing to protect foreigners from
armed mobs.
Troops were deployed last week to
hotspots in the two cities to try to
quell the violence .
