PRETORIA, South Africa — South Africa apologized Thursday for a mass deportation of Nigerians, trying to contain a diplomatic spat that has again focused attention on its sometimes strained relations with the rest of the continent.
“We wish to humbly apologize to them, and we have,” South Africa’s deputy foreign minister, Ibrahim Ibrahim, told reporters. “We are apologizing because we deported a number of people who should not have been deported
Two diplomats from the Nigerian High Commission who accompanied Ibrahim to the news conference at South Africa’s foreign ministry refused to comment beyond a joint statement that described tit-for-tat deportations. The two countries say the incidents will not affect their relations.
On March 2, South Africa deported 125 Nigerians who, according to airport health authorities, carried fraudulent yellow fever cards. Since then, authorities in Lagos, raising health concerns, have deported South Africans.
Ibrahim said South African airport authorities did not properly check to determine whether the cards were authentic. He said South Africa was considering reopening a health clinic at the airport to ensure such deportations are not repeated.
South Africa and Nigeria are allies, but also sometimes rivals for influence in Africa.
Nigeria Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ashiru, speaking to his National Assembly on Tuesday, linked the deportations to what he called the “xenophobia” faced by Nigerian immigrants living in South Africa who fear police who arrest them without cause.
Ibrahim rejected Ashiru’s charge.
“We are not a xenophobic country,” Ibrahim said Thursday.
But in 2008, South Africa saw a wave of violence against foreigners from elsewhere in Africa that left scores dead. Most of the attacks occurred in squatter camps, where South Africans and foreigners — both camps impoverished — compete for housing and jobs.
South Africa has the continent’s most successful economy, and that draws immigrants from further north. But the wealth is far from equally distributed, creating volatility.
South Africans have economic might and, because they are celebrated for peacefully toppling apartheid, international diplomatic stature. South African periodically question whether that makes them arrogant, or results in their being seen as arrogant, when they meet other Africans. They also say the long years of isolation under apartheid left ignorance on both sides.
Such soul-searching was evident earlier this year, when South African politician Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma failed to win enough votes in the African Union to unseat Gabon’s Jean Ping as chairman of the continentwide body.
kris9ice2u at 8-03-2012 01:00 PM (13 years ago) (m)
they are crazy the only way we can accept thier apology is unless the give us visa free and even with free visa i no fit go that country because the only buisness the get for that country na hearts and kidney sell they go just catch you commot your heart or kidney go sell
Posted: at 8-03-2012 01:00 PM (13 years ago) | Newbie
They should also demand apology from Germany, Holland, Spain,France, Canada, U.K, Australia. Austria, Italy, etc, for their inhumane treatment of Nigerians.
Posted: at 8-03-2012 01:55 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
FinlandGuy at 8-03-2012 01:58 PM (13 years ago) (m)
""apartheid south Africa""
I know how much wey i country that time,i was in primary four that time,everyday my teacher dey flog me say make i bring 50kobo for apartheid in South Africa,my broda that time,i no even know wetin be South Africa,i no even now wetin be apartheid but i was paying that money every term for them.
Our class teacher don flog me and Henry until we begin dey call her madam apartheid south Africa,everybody come copy dey call her that name. Money wey i use chop diet for one week during recreation time,i use dash them.
90 Percent of their citizens are living with HIV/AIDS and they are talking about common yellow card of 500 naria.Foolish people.
For any South African ciztizens comming to Niaja Make our Minister of Health dey re check their HIV statues anytime they enter our airport because they carry the thing for hand dey waka.
Upon all the whole money wey them dey chop for Nigeria say na MTN,they still get mouth to deport Nigeria for just a yellow card where as na me born the Killier Disease HIV
Posted: at 8-03-2012 01:58 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
FinlandGuy at 8-03-2012 02:03 PM (13 years ago) (m)
Quote from: Neglito on 8-03-2012 01:55 PM
They should also demand apology from Germany, Holland, Spain,France, Canada, U.K, Australia. Austria, Italy, etc, for their inhumane treatment of Nigerians.
Broda Our Govt No time for this one and even if they get time,no chance,even if there is chance,no space,even of space dey no accommodation.
This one wey they even do,na because two Ministers were involved,if it were to be ordinary Nigerian Citizens,they will keep Quiet and will not do anything.
When it has to do with something overseas,our Govt dey first condemn us before the foreign country condemn us. It is only During Abacha regime that Nigerians abroad dey Enjoy.
Posted: at 8-03-2012 02:03 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
zuby4life at 8-03-2012 02:06 PM (13 years ago) (m)
Quote from: Neglito on 8-03-2012 01:55 PM
They should also demand apology from Germany, Holland, Spain,France, Canada, U.K, Australia. Austria, Italy, etc, for their inhumane treatment of Nigerians.
none of dat country hv time 4 nigeria hw many of der national or business are in naija
Posted: at 8-03-2012 02:06 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
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