Envoy requests evidence of alleged visa rejection while Tyla quietly drops Lagos concert amid growing backlash.
Diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and South Africa have taken a fresh turn after South African authorities denied allegations that Nigerian music star Ayra Starr and members of her entourage were refused entry visas, even as controversy surrounding South African singer Tyla's cancelled Lagos concert continues to fuel public outrage in both countries.
The South African Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, said immigration authorities had no record of any visa application or rejection involving the Mavin Records artiste or her team.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, Moroe challenged those making the allegations to provide details that would enable the South African mission investigate the matter.
He said, "The immigration said they were not aware of the application or the rejection. But what will assist us is if the people who are making these allegations will send us the names and reference numbers of Ayra Starr and her team; if they were rejected and why they were rejected, so that we can double-check."
His comments followed growing calls from prominent Nigerians for the Federal Government to adopt a reciprocal visa policy against South African artistes if it is established that Nigerian entertainers are being unfairly treated.
Among those who raised the issue were former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who urged the government to review visa applications from South African performers and their entourages.
Akpoti-Uduaghan stated, "If it is confirmed that our Nigerian artiste Ayra Starr and her team were previously denied entry visas to South Africa, leading to the cancellation of their engagements, then Nigeria should respond with equivalent measures until Nigerian citizens and artistes are accorded fair and respectful treatment."
2024 visa controversy resurfaces
Although South African officials insist there is no official record of any visa denial, the controversy dates back to February 2024, when Ayra Starr was billed to perform in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The concerts were eventually cancelled, with organisers, Steyn Entertainment, attributing the development to visa challenges.
In a statement at the time, the company's Managing Director, Dale De Ruig, said:
"Regrettably, as has happened numerous times with other artistes from West Africa, through no fault of their own, visas were denied despite exploring every avenue possible to secure visas for Ayra Starr and her team.
"We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause those who have already purchased tickets. All previously purchased tickets will be fully refunded within seven business days via Quicket."
Efforts to obtain Ayra Starr's reaction were unsuccessful, as an email sent to an address listed on her official Instagram page had yet to receive a response as of press time.
Tyla removes Lagos from world tour
The diplomatic row intensified after Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla quietly removed Lagos from the schedule of her ongoing world tour.
Earlier in the week, the singer had announced plans to perform in Lagos on December 22, a concert expected to be her first headline show in Nigeria and one of the highlights of the country's festive "Detty December" calendar.
However, the announcement immediately sparked criticism from many Nigerians, who accused the singer of remaining silent over repeated xenophobic attacks against Nigerians living in South Africa.
The backlash gained momentum following reports surrounding the death of Nigerian national Chika Ibe in Cape Town.
Popular social media activist Martins Otse threatened to mobilise members of the "Ratel Movement" to stop the concert.
"Tyla's show will not happen in Nigeria," he declared.
Media personality Do2dtun also called on the Nigeria Immigration Service to deny Tyla and her team entry visas, while social commentator Solomon Buchi urged Nigerians to reject the concert altogether.
An online petition demanding that Tyla be barred from performing in Nigeria until xenophobic attacks cease also attracted thousands of signatures.
By Friday, a review of the singer's official tour website showed that the Lagos date had disappeared, although scheduled performances across Europe, North America, Johannesburg and Cape Town remained unchanged.
Neither Tyla nor her management has issued any explanation for the decision.
Anti-Nigerian rhetoric escalates online
The removal of the Lagos concert further inflamed tensions on social media, with several South African users posting inflammatory comments calling for Nigerians to leave the country.
One X user, @Abahambekr, wrote:
"See Nigerians trying to stop Tyla from performing in Lagos during her APOP tour. If that happens, we want each and every Nigerian gone with immediate effect.
"We still have more than 500,000 Nigerians in South Africa. We want all of them gone back to their countries, and we won't be nice about it. These ungrateful bastards are angry because we don't want their people to come into our country illegally, to sell drugs in our country and to run businesses that are meant for South Africans according to our law. Now they are trying to attack innocent people who go by the law wherever they go.
"We will make sure there is no Nigerian in our country if Tyla's show gets cancelled for any reason, and we will see who will cry on social media. We are done being nice and diplomatic.
"We will take the law into our own hands, and every Nigerian in South Africa will suffer the consequences."
Other users echoed similar sentiments.
Another X user, @LeslyJohn7, posted:
"As they should! SA has one job now; no Nigerian artist should ever perform in SA, period!"
Similarly, @Tyger1960 wrote:
"Tyla is good. She removed Lagos from her tour. Now it's time for SA and Nigeria to accept they don't like each other and cut all diplomatic ties. Nigerians in SA must go back to Nigeria and South Africans in Nigeria must come back home."
Another post warned:
"There's still millions of Nigerians in South Africa… telling Tyla not to come there is risky for your Igbo and Yoruba brothers who are refusing to go home. All hell will break loose!!!"
The comments have raised fresh concerns about escalating hostility toward Nigerians living in South Africa.
Former envoy advocates compensation
Reacting to the diplomatic dispute, former Nigerian Consul to Cameroon and Delegate to the World Expo and Economic Development Centre in Paris, Rasheed Akinkuolie, said Tyla's decision to drop Lagos from her tour was unsurprising given the strained relations between both countries.
According to him, organising cultural exchanges under the current circumstances could expose participants to unnecessary security risks.
"The relationship between Nigeria and South Africa is still very tense and, as such, this is not the appropriate time to stage cultural events in both countries. Participants in such events may be harmed," he said.
Akinkuolie argued that South Africa should compensate Nigerians who lost lives, businesses and property during xenophobic attacks, adding that Nigeria could consider stronger measures if meaningful action is not taken.
He also criticised the manner in which South African authorities handled immigration enforcement, insisting the process should have been carried out without exposing Nigerians to violence and destruction of property.
According to him, Nigeria, alongside countries including Ghana and Zimbabwe, may seek legal redress at the International Criminal Court to discourage future attacks on foreign nationals.
South Africa says no official notice on Tyla
On the cancellation of Tyla's Lagos concert, Consul-General Moroe said the South African mission had not received any formal communication from the singer's promoters.
He said:
"On Tyla, we have not received any formal complaint or notification from the promoters, although we have also seen reports on social media, so we cannot confirm or deny them."
Despite recent tensions, Moroe maintained that diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa remain intact.
"The fact that our President was proactive in requesting that President Bola Tinubu receive South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation is indicative of South Africa's willingness to reconcile differences between the two countries.
"The meeting that took place on Monday between the ministers went very well, and we believe it was very productive."
Nigeria insists on compensation, stronger safeguards
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has renewed its demand for compensation for Nigerians whose businesses and properties were destroyed during xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Government sources also said Nigeria expects Pretoria to fully implement the Memorandum of Understanding on the Early Warning Mechanism, designed to detect and prevent attacks on foreign nationals before they escalate.
A senior official at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs said:
"Nigeria expects action on the Early Warning Mechanism MoU as the delegation returns to Pretoria. Nigeria also looks forward to an end to xenophobic attacks on its nationals resident in South Africa."
The source added that compensation for victims remains a key demand of the Nigerian government.
The renewed position follows diplomatic engagements initiated after South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, travelled to Abuja on the directive of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Although President Bola Tinubu did not initially receive the delegation, discussions later proceeded after a telephone conversation between both leaders, with the President directing the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, to engage the South African officials in efforts to de-escalate tensions and strengthen bilateral relations.