South Africa releases Fani-Kayode’s speech after he protests its omission from the credentials livestream

South Africa's presidency has released a separate video of Nigeria's High Commissioner, Femi Fani-Kayode, delivering his address at a credentials ceremony, hours after he protested that it had been left out of the official livestream. Vanguard reported that the recording was published on the presidency's YouTube channel.

Fani-Kayode presented his letters of credence on Friday to President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Sefako M. Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Tshwane, together with 14 other ambassadors and high commissioners. The ceremony was streamed live, but the broadcast appeared to suffer a technical interruption while the French ambassador, Antoine Michon, was speaking. When it resumed, the stream showed Ramaphosa addressing the diplomats, and the Nigerian envoy's turn had passed.

In a statement, Fani-Kayode accused officials of the South African presidency of deliberately excluding Nigeria's presentation. The Whistler reported that he said the event featured 15 countries, all of which were introduced and allowed to speak, and that Nigeria's was the only segment not aired. "Clearly some elements in South Africa do not want to hear what we have to say or see our faces," he said, adding that Nigeria was there to stay for as long as it was welcome and had Ramaphosa's confidence.

He said he raised the matter with Ramaphosa himself during the photo session after the ceremony, and that the South African leader took him to the relevant officials and moved quickly. The envoy also said he declined an interview request from the South African Broadcasting Corporation because he was displeased with how Nigeria had been treated, and that Nigerian television stations present had recorded his speech. Hours later the presidency published its own recording.

In the address, Fani-Kayode pledged to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties. Arise News quoted him as saying, "Part of my job here is to reset that relationship, to come and build that bridge, and to ensure that whatever concerns we have, we can work them out and move forward together." He recalled Nigeria's support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle, saying, "We fought together, we stood by you, and we gave our blood and our treasure for you during your dark days."

He described the two countries as major trade partners and said close cooperation would make the continent's destiny more secure. He also praised South Africa's role in BRICS, the Global South and Nigeria's inclusion in the G20, and conveyed greetings from President Bola Tinubu, whom he called a great friend of Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa urged the new diplomats to work with South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation to find practical areas of collaboration.

The South African presidency has not been quoted in the reports explaining the interruption, so the claim of deliberate exclusion remains the envoy's allegation, set against the presidency's quick publication of the speech. The exchange comes as Fani-Kayode begins a posting in which he has said he wants to reset relations between the two countries.