A diplomatic spat has erupted between Nigeria and South Africa after the South African Presidency publicly reprimanded Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, over his complaint that his introduction and speech were cut from a state livestream.
The rebuke came from Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who accused Fani-Kayode of falsely dragging the President into a dispute involving the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
Magwenya said Ramaphosa had no role in the matter and no authority to interfere in the operations of the public broadcaster.
The row began after Fani-Kayode, a former Nigerian Minister of Aviation, presented his letters of credence to Ramaphosa at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria on Friday.
The ceremony brought together ambassadors from 15 countries and was livestreamed by the South African Presidency.
Fani-Kayode alleged that Nigeria was the only country whose ambassadorial introduction and speech were excluded from the broadcast.
Presidency Says Ramaphosa Only Pointed Envoy to Right Official
In a public statement addressed to the ambassador, Magwenya said he regretted having to respond on a public platform.
“Your Excellency, I deeply regret that I have to address you through a public platform. However, now that you have falsely referenced the President on a matter he has no involvement in, I’m duty bound to clarify your misrepresentation of facts,” he said.
Magwenya explained that Ramaphosa does not intervene in operational matters at public broadcasters.
“In South Africa the President does not intervene on operational matters at the public broadcasters, neither did he intervene on your behalf. He simply pointed you to @Sophie_Mokoena who was the most appropriate person to raise your grievance with,” he said.
He further alleged that Fani-Kayode declined to engage with Mokoena, who he said could have cleared the misunderstanding.
“Your Excellency, you refused to speak to @Sophie_Mokoena who would have cleared the misunderstanding with you. I would encourage you, that as you start your tenure in South Africa you meet with SABC to forge a mutually beneficial, respectful and professional relationship,” Magwenya added.
The spokesperson said the SABC’s editorial and operational independence must be respected.
“The SABC is a public broadcaster. The President carries no legal or political mandate to interfere with its operations or intervene in its editorial processes,” he stated.
Magwenya described the ambassador’s approach as inappropriate.
“Frankly, your approach in this regard on a minor operational issue which you misunderstood was grossly inappropriate,” he said.
“I wish you well on your tenure and I hope you begin to engage the various aspects of South African society and its constitutional tenets constructively.”
Fani-Kayode Alleges Deliberate Exclusion
Fani-Kayode had earlier posted a detailed statement on his official X handle, alleging that Nigeria’s delegation was deliberately cut from the livestream.
He said the event was watched by millions of people in Nigeria, South Africa and beyond.
“Every single one of the 15 Ambassadors that were present were introduced formally and gave a speech. Curiously the South African Presidency refused to air the introduction of my goodself and the Nigerian delegation or to air my speech,” he wrote.
“They went a step further by cutting us out of the livestream completely and went back on livestream only after my speech was concluded.”
He said he raised the issue directly with Ramaphosa during the photo session.
“I raised the issue with President Ramaphosa directly during the course of the photo session and whilst we were still on the premises and, in fairness to him, he took me to the relevant officials and acted with despatch,” he said.
“Right there in my presence he questioned them and directed them to resolve the issue immediately. Sadly by then it was too late and Nigeria had been left out.”
Fani-Kayode said he turned down an interview request from SABC News in protest.
He added that Nigerian television stations at the event recorded his speech in full.
“One thing is clear, I have immense respect and affection for South Africa and the South African people but I will not be anywhere or tolerate anyone that disrespects or treats our Government or our people flippantly,” he said.
The envoy said he remains confident that Ramaphosa supports his posting, noting it was the first time in four years Nigeria had sent a substantive ambassador to South Africa.
