South Africa Releases Fani-Kayode’s Speech in New Video after Protest over Livestream Omission

The South African presidency has released a new video featuring Femi Fani-Kayode’s speech at his credentials presentation ceremony after he protested its omission from the livestream.

Fani-Kayode presented his letters of credence as Nigeria’s high commissioner to South Africa, alongside 14 other ambassadors on Friday at the Sefako M. Makgatho presidential guest house in Tshwane, Gauteng.

The South African presidency livestreamed the ceremony on YouTube.

However, the livestream appeared to suffer a glitch while Antoine Michon, the French ambassador to South Africa, was delivering his speech.

Fani-Kayode was scheduled to speak after Michon.

The broadcast subsequently cut to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressing the ambassadors.

Fani-Kayode said the South African presidency had “refused” to air his speech.

“Clearly some elements in South Africa do not want to hear what we have to say or see our faces, but we are here to stay as long as we are welcome and have the confidence of President Ramaphosa, which I am sure we do,” he said.

The diplomat said he raised the issue directly with Ramaphosa during the photo session, adding that “in fairness to him, he took me to the relevant officials and acted with despatch”.

Hours later, the South African presidency uploaded a separate video featuring Fani-Kayode’s speech on its YouTube channel.

In his speech, Fani-Kayode pledged to work towards strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and South Africa.

“Nothing can come between the two of us. And part of my job here is to reset that relationship, to come and build that bridge, and to ensure that whatever concerns we have mutually, we can work them out and move forward together,” he said.

Fani-Kayode recalled Nigeria’s support for South Africa during its struggle against apartheid, noting the longstanding ties between both countries.

He described Nigeria as South Africa’s largest trading partner on the African continent and emphasised the need to strengthen economic and diplomatic cooperation.

“Without South Africa and Nigeria working together, closely together, the destiny of our great continent may well be affected,” he said.

Fani-Kayode also commended South Africa’s position on international issues, particularly the Gaza conflict, its involvement in the BRICS bloc and its advocacy for the Global South.

He praised Ramaphosa’s efforts towards securing Nigeria’s inclusion in the Group of 20, describing them as noteworthy and encouraging.

The ceremony marked the first posting of a substantive Nigerian ambassador to South Africa in four years, according to Fani-Kayode.