The South African Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, has dismissed claims that Nigerians living in South Africa are being attacked or forced to leave the country because they are dating or marrying South African women.
Speaking in an interview with Punch, Moroe described the claim as a popular narrative that does not accurately reflect the situation in South Africa.
According to him, South Africa is a constitutional democracy where individuals have the freedom to choose whom they love or marry, regardless of nationality.
He said, “It cannot be. We live in a constitutional democracy where everybody is allowed to exercise their freedoms, and nobody, no matter how they feel, is permitted to interfere with people’s preferences. Love knows no borders.”
Moroe acknowledged that some South African women may prefer Nigerian men but said relationships between people of different nationalities should not be viewed as a problem.
He also rejected the idea that South African men generally dislike Nigerian men, pointing to his own friendships and interest in Nigerian culture, particularly his connections with people from Anambra and Abia states.
The Consul-General, however, said one of the major concerns among some South Africans is the presence of undocumented foreign nationals in the country.
He explained that the concerns were not directed at all foreigners, noting that Nigerians, Ghanaians and other nationals who reside legally in South Africa should not be lumped together with those who violate immigration laws.
Moroe argued that no country would permit people to remain within its borders illegally and said South Africa should not automatically be labelled xenophobic whenever it raises concerns about undocumented immigrants.
He maintained that the issue should be addressed within the framework of the country’s laws rather than through claims that Nigerians are being targeted because of their relationships with South African women.
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