South Africa’s Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, has dismissed claims that xenophobia is widespread in South Africa, insisting that the government does not tolerate attacks against foreign nationals, including Nigerians, regardless of their immigration status.

Okpebholo Defends Appointment Of 4,000 Special Assistants, Says APC Victory Belongs To All

Moroe made the remarks during an interview on Nigeria Info FM, where he responded to questions about repeated incidents of violence involving foreign nationals in South Africa. While acknowledging that concerns raised by Nigerians over the safety of their compatriots were legitimate, the diplomat maintained that such incidents should not be described as evidence of widespread xenophobia. According to him, the South African government condemns all forms of abuse against both citizens and foreigners and remains committed to protecting everyone under its Constitution.

“There’s no xenophobia in South Africa,” Moroe said. Drawing a comparison with Nigeria’s expulsion of undocumented West African migrants during the “Ghana Must Go” era, he stated, “We only said they should go back to their country because, you know, we wanted better economy for ourselves.” He added, “Yeah, no, your concerns are genuine. But as a government, we condemn abuse of any individuals, whether South African or foreigner, even if you are illegal. Whether you are legal or illegal, you have a right according to the South African Constitution for protection.”

The Consul-General acknowledged that some South Africans have expressed concerns over unemployment, poverty and inequality but stressed that economic challenges cannot justify attacks on foreign nationals. He also argued that the term “xenophobia” has become unfairly associated with South Africa alone, saying similar incidents in other countries are often described differently. Moroe’s comments come amid longstanding concerns over attacks on African migrants, particularly Nigerians, which have periodically strained diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa despite their strong economic and political ties.