Nigeria and South Africa’s relations date back to decades ago, with Nigeria topping the list of foremost supporters of Black South African liberation movements, including the African National Congress.
During the period, the Nigerian government issued more than 300 passports to South Africans seeking to travel abroad.
Few years after the apartheid in South Africa, what seemed like a very close relationship gradually turned into rivalry, with Nigerians suffering xenophobic attacks, a development that has been described by Nigerians as a ‘stab in the back’.
As at 2011 over 24,000 Nigerians were living in South Africa.
Increasing competition between the two countries for positions at multilateral organisations is also thought to have worsened relations.
There have been conflicting interests between both countries, as it relates to politics in Africa. One of which was seen during the crisis that erupted in Cote d’Ivoire after the election. While South Africa supported incumbent Laurent Gbagbo to continue in office, Nigeria was in favour of Alassane Ouattara to take over as president.
However, beyond the seeming rivalry between both countries, the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan was in South Africa in May 2013 in a major visit that drew attention away from any rivalry to focus on Africa.
During the visit, Jonathan urged African leaders to pay greater attention to the economic emancipation of the people as a way of consolidating the achievements recorded in the liberation of the continent.
He said that Nigeria and South Africa were not in competition but are brothers striving for the greater good of the continent.
Channels Television had a chat with South Africa’s High commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Lulu Mngunu, about the ties that bind both countries and how to make it stronger.
Ambassador Mngunu described Nigeria as “a country that is hinged on the philosophy of Pan-Africanism, as expounded by Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere and many other leaders who always believe that Africa cannot be free if it had in it some countries that are not free”. The philosophy, he said, entails the struggle towards integrating and becoming one to enable the continent overcome its challenges whether political or economic.
He pointed out that the South African foreign policy is based on the consolidation of the African Agenda.
Beyond Xenophobic Attacks And Rivalry
“Our interests as South Africans are inextricably bound with those of the African continent. South Africa cannot make it alone. This was proved during the struggle. I am sure even now we will be in the trenches if we were to fight it alone. Thanks to our friends and our brothers from Nigeria,” Ambassador Mngunu said.
The friendly relationship seen during apartheid has been taunted with the increasing xenophobic attacks Nigerians in South Africa are experiencing.
However, Ambassador Mngunu, insisted that ‘xenophobia was not part of South Africa’s foreign policy’.
“We have our own law to punish anybody that harasses or engages negatively on the people… whether South Africans, Namibians or Nigerians. We are educating our people that we have come a long way with these people. We have shared trenches fighting against apartheid and we are now sharing trenches to bring about peace in Africa,” He said.
To bring an end to these attacks, he emphasised that the South African government has set up a programme aimed at educating South Africans on the nation’s foreign policies, as it relates to migrants.
Beyond the attack and rivalry, the ambassador pointed out several areas that both countries are exploring to ensure they benefit from each other and strengthen ties. One of which is the mining sector; an area South Africa has over 100 years’ experience in.
The ambassador also explained the issues surrounding the issuance of South African Visa, which Nigerians have complained was becoming difficult to obtain.
Get more information about issues on xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa and its visa policies in the video.
