The South African government has described its relationship with Nigeria as firm as President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to visit in October.
This reassurance was given over rising tension as a result of reported xenophobic attack against Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa.
The South African presidency in a statement said: “His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari will undertake a State Visit to South Africa in October 2019 to reinforce the strong bonds between the two countries and jointly develop responses to challenges affecting people and businesses in South Africa and Nigeria.
“In the wake of public violence in South Africa and developments in Nigeria around South African businesses based in the West African country, President Cyril Ramaphosa held discussions yesterday, Friday 6 September 2019, with Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Special envoy of The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The visit to Pretoria by the Special Envoy followed a recent meeting between Presidents Ramaphosa and Buhari in Yokohama, Japan, on the sidelines of the Summit of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development.
“In yesterday’s discussion, the Special Envoy conveyed President Buhari’s concern at recent events in South Africa, in the context of the strong and cordial relations that characterise the interaction between the two countries.
President Buhari conveyed his commitment to the values of prosperity and the advancement of Africa that are shared by South Africa and Nigeria.”
The South African government noted that Nigeria has expressed willingness to in establishing the root causes of the violence.
“Nigeria stands ready to assist South Africa in establishing the root causes of and developing sustainable solutions to the challenges concerned.
“President Buhari has undertaken that where challenges emerge in Nigeria, the Nigerian government will act against lawlessness and the targeting of South African assets in Nigeria.
"President Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa-Nigeria relations as being firm and strong and said the two partners were resolute in their shared commitment to build an Africa at peace with itself and others.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government denied reports that at least one explosion has rocked the South African embassy in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
The denial was issued by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, in a statement signed by his media aide Segun Adeyemi on Saturday, September 7.