Fresh controversy as South Africa Presidency accuses Fani-Kayode, Nigerian mission of lying

The diplomatic tensions between South Africa and Nigeria have resurfaced following accusations of lying from the Nigerian High Commission regarding President Cyril Ramaphosa's alleged intervention in the omission of Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode's speech from a televised ceremony. South Africa's presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, dismissed the Nigerian claims as false, stating that the President had neither intervened nor had the authority to interfere with editorial decisions of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

Magwenya further challenged Nigeria to familiarize itself with South African laws and the SABC's editorial code. The Nigerian mission, however, steadfastly maintained that the exclusion of Fani-Kayode's speech was a deliberate affront to Nigeria and its ambassador, expressing gratitude for Ramaphosa's "timely intervention." The dispute originated from a ceremony held at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, where Fani-Kayode protested the exclusion of Nigeria's presentation from the live broadcast, alleging that the livestream was suspended when it was Nigeria's turn to speak.

South Africa's official YouTube channel subsequently posted the full ceremony, including Fani-Kayode's speech, addressing the disagreement.