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SocialMediaTrends: How S’Africans reacted to their govt’s visa promise to Nigerians

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South Africans during xenophobic attacks

South African citizens have come hard on their government following a promise by President Cyril Ramaphosa that the country had simplified its visa processes to facilitate travel for Nigerian business people and tourists, with measures such as five-year multiple entry visas.

Ramaphosa who made the announcement at the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town on Tuesday, had assured of South Africa’s readiness to remove constraints on greater investment and address the challenges faced by companies in both countries.

“Our efforts to create a favourable environment include our simplified visa process for Nigerian business people to travel to South Africa. Qualifying Nigerian business people can be granted a five-year multiple entry visa,” he had said.

Ramaphosa had also assured of South Africa’s readiness to remove constraints on greater investment and address the challenges faced by companies in both countries.

“As we mark 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, we see a bright future for our relationship. Our strong bonds of friendship provide a firm foundation for more meaningful economic cooperation.

“Nigeria is host to several South African companies. South Africa has always been open to Nigerian business, reflected in the number of investments and operations established in this country.

“But there is much more we need to do. We need to remove the remaining constraints to greater investment, just as we need to address some of the challenges that companies have experienced.

“Our government continues with its efforts to improve the ease of doing business in South Africa. We want to enable investors to operate, trade, and pursue opportunities in various sectors.

“We look forward to seeing more Nigerian companies investing in South Africa,” he had added.

The announcement had generated a backlash and public outrage by South African citizens which led the government coming out with a clarification on Wednesday, saying Ramaphosa’s statement was taken out of context.

The government, while clarifying the President’s comments, said
the country’s visa process was still undergoing reform processes that would ultimately modernise and streamline visa application processes worldwide, and not targeting Nigerians only.

“The Presidency wishes to clarify a misunderstanding that appears to have arisen from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s opening remarks at the SA-Nigeria Bi-National Commission yesterday (03 December 2024) about the simplified visa process for Nigerian nationals,” the statement said.

“As part of the work underway to modernise and streamline visa application processes worldwide, South African missions in Nigeria have improved the efficiency and convenience of applying for a visa.

“This is part of the visa reforms initiated by the South African government to enable economic activities and boost tourism while protecting our national security.

“The modernisation of the visa application process does not compromise the integrity of the visa system.

“Prospective travellers can apply for their visas without submitting their passports along with their applications – at the time of application, they are only required to submit certified copies of the biopage of their passports, and their actual passports should also be availed during the application process for verification and confirmation,” the clarification statement said.

However, despite the clarification, citizens are still not convinced, as many of them took to social media to attack their government over the gesture which they believe is not what they need at the moment.

While some castigated their government, others attacked Nigerians and Nigeria with all sorts of derogatory terms.

Read some of the reactions on X below:

“Nothing was out of context. You taking us for a fool.
1. Registering foreigner businesses
2. Open border
3. Visa free access to Nigerians that flood our streets with drugs
4. Jobs for foreigners
5. Poverty in South Africa
6. High unemployment rate.
All these are facts.” – @chiefcebo

“That $5.2bn fine MTN received in Nigeria says Nigeria could be hostile to SA owned companies… what measures are in place to ensure that movement and trade between Nigeria and South Africa will not be disproportionately skewed against South Africans?” – @ZengFuey

“Have a look at just how skewed against SA this relationship is. Nigeria better up her game. South African exports $521m to Nigeria vs Nigerian exports $2.25bn to South Africa. We’re not getting equal value out of this trade relationship and Cyril wants us to give more pounds of flesh.” – @ZengFuey

“Deport the ones that are destroying the future of South Africa by selling drugs and doing criminal activities first. Then we can decide as citizens whether we want Egusi or not….” – @Oracle5152

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“We dont want anything to do with Nigerians.” – @_BlackZA

“Knowing very well how problematic these West Africans are in every country they are in, they you go ahead and make it easy for come here. You really are out of tune with the reality of South Africans and you really hate us, you can’t convince me otherwise.” – @Makhanya

“Around the world countries are blocking the green passport but not with @CyrilRamaphosa, do they listen to the citizens, do they see the harm that we go through thanks to them pushing drugs to our communities. There’s a serious problem with drugs but not with our number one I’m sure he wants them on our shelves.” – @AgriGrowthBuzz

“This mission was clear: close the spaza shops & deport illegal foreigners, whether Nigerian or Somalian.. bt you know what, he did worse. Gave them 21 days, allocated R500m, visa-free entry, and allowed them to come to run businesses here! Basically, he mized the citizens’ cry.” – @professor_Axe

“The most unpatriotic president in the history of South Africa 🇿🇦, Ramaphosa, hates our country with a passion.” – @Ghostonlysa

“South Africans are saying tell Tinubu to come take his kids who are selling drugs here.” – @MotsoAphi

“What are we looking to gain out of Nigeria other than drugs and pimping of school children? Nigeria is not business friendly to its natives, what makes the president think that it will be to South Africa?” – @SiboMaputi

“Ramaphosa has never addressed the human trafficking crisis caused by some Nigerians in SA.” – @Naheng

“Whilst other countries want nothing to do with Nigerians and are actively kicking them out, we are inviting them and making it even easier for them. ANC is failing dismally!” – @QabaNtywenka

‘You guys take South Africans as fools, we want that foreigners President to resign with immediate effect, 2026 is too far, he must resign now before we shut down this country, there’s no misunderstanding here, he must resign and face phala phala case, we don’t need him anymore..” – @RamailaSimon1

He meant what he said. We don’t care about whatever you’re saying. Tsek🚮. This man has shown us, the people of South Africa who he is repeatedly. We have no confidence in whatever he says in regards to the well-being of the nation and our futur-‘e. He sucks.” – @pearls_your

“You’re compromising the integrity of the State with baseless clarification.
The world is doing away with Nigerians with fake qualifications now you want to force them in our throats. Go to hell with your useless clarity, we don’t want to associate ourselves with Nigerians finish.” – @Malumz360

“Its fun and games till the nigerians starting defecating openly outside the union buildings! South Africans in general don’t even need anything from Nigeria. @MYANC members can always go there in their own personal capacity if you wish just don’t impose undesired relations on citizens.” – @Xee_GP

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