South Africa president, Cyril Ramaphosa, on Monday apologised to the Nigerian government over the xenophobic attacks that targeted Nigerians and some other Africans recently.
Ramaphosa’s message was delivered to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa, Abuja, by a special envoy led by Jeff Radebe, a former ambassador to Nigeria.
Read Also: Borders To Remain Closed Until Objectives Are Met – NSA
Radebe was accompanied by South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby J. Moroe, with the special envoy arriving at about 2.15p.m on Monday.
Ramaphosa had last week decided to dispatch the Special Envoys to Nigeria and six other African countries mostly affected by the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals including Nigerians.
A statement released by South African government spokesman, Khusela Diko, at the weekend, said: “The special envoys will deliver a message from President Ramaphosa regarding the incidents of violence that recently erupted in some parts of South Africa, which have manifested in attacks on foreign nationals and destruction of property.”
Following the xenophobic attacks by South Africans against foreigners including Nigerians, Buhari sent Ambassador Ahmed Abubakar, Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), as his Special Envoy to South Africa.
The President, who received the report of the NIA Boss on September 9, ordered for the immediate evacuation of all Nigerians who are willing to return home from South Africa due to the attacks.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the Management of Air Peace in collaboration with the Federal Government had on September 11, evacuated 187 Nigerians from South Africa while another set of 320 Nigerians are expected in the country on Tuesday.
Discussion about this post