The South African presidency has responded to claims from Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s high commissioner to the country, alleging that his speech was cut off when he presented his letters of credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Vincent Magwenya, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, said Fani-Kayode
misrepresented the situation and falsely referenced the president as an
intervening authority in the matter.
Fani-Kayode presented his letters of credence alongside 14
other envoys on Friday at the Sefako M. Makgatho presidential guest house in
Tshwane, Gauteng.
The South African presidency livestreamed the ceremony on
YouTube.
However, the livestream appeared to suffer a glitch while
Antoine Michon, the French ambassador to South Africa, whom Fani-Kayode was
scheduled to speak after, was delivering his speech.
The broadcast subsequently cut to Ramaphosa addressing the
ambassadors.
Fani-Kayode publicly expressed his grievances in a lengthy
post on X.
The diplomat said he raised the issue directly with
Ramaphosa, who “in fairness to him”, took Fani-Kayode to the “relevant
officials and acted with despatch”.
Fani-Kayode said he turned down an interview offer from SABC
News, the South African state broadcaster, “as a consequence of the deplorable
way we were treated”.
SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENCY RESPONDS
Magwenya said Fani-Kayode referenced Ramaphosa on a matter
he had no involvement.
“In South Africa the President does not intervene on
operational matters at the public broadcasters, neither did he intervene on
your behalf,” he said.
Magwenya said Ramaphosa only directed Fani-Kayode to Sophie
Mokoena, SABC acting political and foreign editor, who was the most appropriate
person to raise his grievance with.
Magwenya said the high commissioner refused to speak to
Mokoena, who would have cleared the misunderstanding.
“The SABC is a public broadcaster. The President carries no
legal or political mandate to interfere with its operations or intervene in its
editorial processes,” he added.
“Frankly, your approach in this regard on a minor
operational issue which you misunderstood was grossly inappropriate.”
The presidential spokesman urged Fani-Kayode to meet with
the SABC to forge a “mutually beneficial, respectful and professional
relationship” as he begins his tenure.
“I wish you well on your tenure and I hope you begin to
engage the various aspects of South African society and its constitutional
tenets constructively.”
Hours after Fani-Kayode’s post, the South African presidency
uploaded a separate video featuring his speech on its YouTube channel.
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