By George Omagbemi Sylvester
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that South Africans are not xenophobic, following reports that some Nigerian senators are considering a boycott of South African businesses operating in Nigeria, including MTN.
Ramaphosa made the statement on May 6, 2026, less than 12 hours after the reports surfaced, emphasizing that South Africans are “not against people from other nations” and describing both countries as “one people.”
The response comes amid renewed tensions over alleged attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, which have repeatedly strained diplomatic relations between Abuja and Pretoria.
Nigerian lawmakers had earlier raised concerns over the safety of Nigerians in South Africa, prompting calls for economic retaliation.
There has been no official confirmation from the Nigerian government on any planned boycott, but the development has drawn attention to the economic ties between both countries, particularly in telecommunications and retail sectors.
Leave a Reply