Spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Vincent Magwenya, has accused Nigeria’s High Commission of spreading false information over claims that the President intervened following the omission of Nigerian High Commissioner Femi Fani-Kayode’s speech from a diplomatic ceremony livestream.

Magwenya, in a post on X on Saturday, insisted that neither Ramaphosa nor the Presidency interfered with the operations or editorial decisions of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

He also urged the Nigerian diplomatic mission to familiarise itself with South Africa’s constitution and laws, telling it to stop disgracing itself and the country.

The exchange followed a statement by Nigeria’s High Commission defending Fani-Kayode after he protested that his introduction and speech were excluded from the livestream of a ceremony at which Ramaphosa received letters of credence from 15 ambassadors in Pretoria.

Fani-Kayode had alleged that the introductions and speeches of 14 other ambassadors were broadcast, while Nigeria’s presentation was deliberately omitted.

He said the livestream was interrupted when it was Nigeria’s turn and resumed only after he had delivered his address.

The Nigerian envoy also claimed that he raised the matter directly with Ramaphosa, who summoned the relevant officials and directed them to resolve the issue.

However, Magwenya disputed the account, explaining that the President merely referred Fani-Kayode to Sophie Mokoena, whom he described as the appropriate person to address his complaint.

He further claimed that the Nigerian ambassador declined to speak with Mokoena, who could have clarified the misunderstanding.

In its response, Nigeria’s High Commission maintained that Fani-Kayode and the country had been treated with contempt, insisting that Ramaphosa had done the right thing by intervening.

Rejecting the claim, Magwenya stated that there was no presidential intervention in the matter, adding that the President had no legal or political authority to interfere with the public broadcaster’s editorial processes.

He wrote: “Even when it’s institutionalised, a lie remains a lie. There was no such intervention from the President or the Presidency and there will never be.

“Read our constitution and laws and familiarise yourself with the SABC editorial code. Stop disgracing yourself and your country.”

The disagreement followed Fani-Kayode’s decision to decline an interview request from SABC News after the incident, which he described as unacceptable treatment of Nigeria’s delegation.

Meanwhile, the South African Presidency subsequently released the full recording of the ceremony on its YouTube channel, including Fani-Kayode’s address.

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

He also described his appointment as an opportunity to rebuild relations and address areas of mutual concern between the two African nations.