The South African government says it remains indebted to Nigeria for its role in the liberation struggle that freed the country from apartheid.
South Africa’s minister of international relations and cooperation, Ronald Lamola, stated this on Monday during a meeting with Nigeria’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, in Abuja.
According to reports, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa asked Lamola to deliver a message to President Bola Tinubu.
However, Tinubu reportedly delegated the meeting to Enikanolaiye.
Lamola said the visit was aimed at reaffirming the historic friendship and solidarity between the two countries while addressing concerns over violence against foreign nationals.
He acknowledged Nigeria’s pivotal role in supporting South Africa’s struggle against apartheid, describing the country’s contribution as a sacrifice that remains deeply appreciated by the South African people.
“We remain deeply indebted to the people of Nigeria for their sacrifice,” Lamola said.
He added that Ramaphosa and his government remain firmly opposed to xenophobia, racism, discrimination, homophobia and all forms of intolerance.
The South African minister, however, said his country has a sovereign responsibility to enforce its immigration laws and combat irregular migration and criminal activities, including drug trafficking, internet fraud and other offences.
While noting that migration has become a continental challenge that requires African countries to work together within the framework of the African Union’s (AU) protocols on orderly and regular migration, he pointed out that both countries have a shared responsibility to respond to these challenges within the African continent.
The minister said details of Ramaphosa’s message would be discussed during a closed-door session.
Enikanolaiye said Tinubu directed the meeting to address the persistent attacks against Nigerians in South Africa in a frank and honest manner.
The minister urged Pretoria to take urgent and concrete steps to end what Nigeria described as recurring Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals, warning that the violence threatens decades of strategic partnership between Africa’s two largest economies.
