South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, has criticised Nigeria’s High Commission over claims that the President intervened in a dispute involving Nigerian Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode and the country’s public broadcaster.

The disagreement followed complaints by Fani-Kayode that his speech was excluded from the live broadcast of a diplomatic ceremony in Pretoria.

In a post on X, Magwenya dismissed the Nigerian mission’s claim that Ramaphosa personally intervened to address the incident, insisting that the President had no authority to interfere with the operations of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

He explained that Ramaphosa only referred the Nigerian ambassador to Sophie Mokoena, whom he identified as the appropriate person to handle the complaint.

Magwenya also said Fani-Kayode declined to speak with Mokoena, who could have helped clarify the circumstances surrounding the broadcast.

He urged the ambassador to establish a professional relationship with the broadcaster and understand the constitutional provisions guiding its operations.

The Nigerian High Commission, however, maintained that the ambassador had been treated disrespectfully and that the incident reflected poorly on Nigeria.

In its response on Saturday, the mission said Ramaphosa had done the right thing by intervening and that the matter had been resolved.

Magwenya rejected the explanation, insisting that neither the South African President nor the Presidency interfered with the broadcaster’s operations.

He further accused the Nigerian mission of misrepresenting the situation, urging its officials to familiarise themselves with South Africa’s constitution and the SABC editorial code.

“Stop disgracing yourself and your country,” he said in his response.

The controversy started on Friday during a ceremony at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, where Ramaphosa received letters of credence from 15 newly appointed ambassadors.

Fani-Kayode alleged that the speeches and introductions of 14 ambassadors were transmitted live, but the broadcast was interrupted when it was Nigeria’s turn to make its presentation.

He claimed that the transmission resumed after he had finished speaking, prompting him to raise the matter directly with Ramaphosa during a photo session.

According to the Nigerian envoy, the President summoned the officials responsible for the broadcast and instructed them to address the complaint.

Hours after the incident, the South African Presidency released the complete recording of the ceremony, including Fani-Kayode’s speech, on its YouTube channel.

During his address, the Nigerian ambassador pledged to strengthen diplomatic relations between both countries, recalling Nigeria’s support for South Africa during its struggle against apartheid.

He also expressed the need for greater cooperation between the two countries and described his appointment as an opportunity to rebuild bilateral relations.

The ceremony marked the arrival of Nigeria’s first substantive High Commissioner to South Africa in four years, according to Fani-Kayode.