The spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Vincent Magwenya, has accused Nigeria’s High Commission of spreading falsehoods over claims that the South African leader intervened in the omission of Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode’s speech from a diplomatic ceremony broadcast.
Magwenya, in a post on X on Saturday, insisted that neither Ramaphosa nor the Presidency interfered with the operations or editorial decisions of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
He also urged the Nigerian mission to familiarise itself with South Africa’s constitution and laws, adding, “Stop disgracing yourself and your country.”
The exchange followed a response by the Nigerian High Commission to Magwenya’s earlier criticism of Fani-Kayode’s protest over the omission of his speech during the presentation of letters of credence.
In his earlier post on Friday, Magwenya accused the Nigerian ambassador of misrepresenting Ramaphosa’s involvement in the matter.
He said the President had neither the legal authority nor the political mandate to interfere with the public broadcaster’s editorial decisions.
According to Magwenya, Ramaphosa merely directed Fani-Kayode to Sophie Mokoena, whom he described as the appropriate person to address the complaint.
He also claimed that the ambassador declined to speak with Mokoena, who could have clarified the misunderstanding.
However, the Nigerian High Commission, in a response on Saturday, defended Fani-Kayode, insisting that the ambassador and Nigeria had been treated with contempt.
“Our Ambassador, H.E. Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, @realFFK was treated with contempt and disdain and by extension so was Nigeria.
“H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who we have the utmost respect for, did the right thing by intervening. We got the result we wanted. End of story,” the mission said.
Rejecting the claim, Magwenya replied, “Even when it’s institutionalised, a lie remains a lie. There was no such intervention from the President or the Presidency and there will never be.
“Read our constitution and laws and familiarise yourself with the SABC editorial code. Stop disgracing yourself and your country.”
The diplomatic disagreement began on Friday after Fani-Kayode accused the South African Presidency of deliberately excluding Nigeria’s delegation from the livestream of a ceremony at which Ramaphosa received letters of credence from 15 ambassadors.
The ceremony, held at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, saw the Nigerian envoy protest that while the introductions and speeches of 14 other ambassadors were broadcast, Nigeria’s presentation was omitted.
Fani-Kayode said the livestream was suspended when it was Nigeria’s turn and resumed only after he had delivered his speech.
He subsequently claimed that he raised the matter directly with Ramaphosa during a photo session after the ceremony, prompting the South African President to summon the officials responsible for the broadcast and direct them to resolve the issue.
“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,” the ambassador said.
He later thanked Ramaphosa for what he described as his timely intervention, while expressing disappointment over the incident.
However, Magwenya maintained that the President only referred the ambassador to Mokoena and did not interfere with the broadcaster’s operations.
He also advised Fani-Kayode to build a professional relationship with the SABC and understand South Africa’s constitutional provisions.
Hours after the protest, the South African Presidency released the full video of the ceremony, including Fani-Kayode’s speech, on its YouTube page.
In his address, the Nigerian ambassador pledged to strengthen relations between both countries, describing his appointment as an opportunity to rebuild diplomatic ties and address areas of mutual concern.
He also recalled Nigeria’s support for South Africa during its struggle against apartheid and called for closer cooperation between the two countries.
The ceremony marked the first posting of a substantive Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa in four years, according to Fani-Kayode.
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