Am reporting live from johannesburg now.
PRETORIA — South Africa on
Thursday apologised for
blocking 125 Nigerians from the
country and unveiled new
immigration procedures aimed
at ending a diplomatic row
between the continent's two
powerhouses.
The dispute blew up after
immigration officials at
Johannesburg's main airport on
Friday refused entry to Nigerians
over suspicions that their yellow
fever vaccination cards were
fake.
Every day since, Nigeria has
turned away dozens of South
Africans in retaliation.
"We apologise for this
unfortunate incident and we
hope this matter will not in any
way affect our bilateral
relations," deputy foreign
minister Ibrahim Ibrahim told
reporters in Pretoria.
"We've put into place certain
mechanisms to ensure this
doesn't happen again, and we
believe that this matter is
closed," he added.
"We are in contact with the
embassy in Nigeria, to see that
there are no longer problems,
and that any difficulties over
vaccination certificates are dealt
with before a visa is issued."
He did not expect an apology
from Nigeria over its retaliatory
actions, he said. "We understand
the reaction of the Nigerian
authorities."
The authorities have agreed to
re-open an airport clinic that
would allow travellers to receive
yellow fever vaccines on
arrival;and to require a foreign
ministry official's consent before
immigration authorities turn
away large groups of travellers.
South Africa, the richest country
on the continent, is struggling
with its reputation for
xenophobia -- a perception that
was reinforced after nationwide
attacks on immigrants left 62
dead in 2008.
The government has moved
quickly to mend this latest row.
"Cabinet expressed shock and
regret at the reports regarding
how African foreign nationals,
particularly Nigerians, and other
nationals from other parts of the
world have been treated" at
Johannesburg's main airport,
minister in the presidency Collins
Chabane told reporters in Cape
Town earlier Thursday.
On Tuesday Nigerian Foreign
Minister Olugbenga Ashiru had
accused the South African
authorities of targeting
Nigerians.
"What you see playing out is
what we call xenophobia by
South Africans against all
Africans -- not just Nigerians --
including even those from their
neighbouring countries," Ashiru
added.
Friday's incident prompted
Nigeria's Arik Air to suspend its
flights to Johannesburg, though
it has since resumed its service.
South Africa's ambassador also
called the Nigerian foreign
ministry over the issue.
Arik, one of two airlines affected,
said health officials had given
the reason as incorrect or
unrecognised batch numbers on
the documentation. Proof of
vaccination is mandatory before
one can enter the country.
Sales of fake vaccination cards
are common at Nigerian borders.