South Africa’s govt tells Nigerian govt not to expect compensation, demands location of drug dens

The South African government has made it clear that it will not provide any compensation, requesting the Nigerian government to identify the locations of drug dens in order to swiftly eliminate drugs from their country.

Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, the South African Minister in the Presidency, affirmed that foreign nationals who legally own property in South Africa can sell their assets before departing, emphasizing that only properties formally registered are recognized by law.

In her remarks, Ntshavheni elaborated that all legitimate assets are officially documented, stating that properties are registered with the Deeds Register, vehicles are recorded in the NATIS system, and businesses are registered with the CIPC, while rented spaces are acknowledged by landlords.

She further requested information on sites allegedly associated with drug-related activities, saying, “We want to know where the drug dens of Nigerians are so we can find out where the drugs are being kept and urgently clean them from South Africa.”

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Ntshavheni highlighted that only legally recognized properties are protected under South African law, clarifying that “Properties in South Africa are subject to the law. Informal squatter camps and settlements do not qualify as properties because they are illegal, which constitutes a violation of our laws.”

She added that any removal or eviction of informal settlements would prevent the establishment of such areas in the future, in accordance with court rulings.

Additionally, she reiterated that the government will not offer compensation for illegal structures, stating, “There will be no compensation from the government.”

For those who hold legally registered properties, she mentioned, “They can sell their assets within the South African property market, whether they are movable or immovable.”