The South African government has denied allegations that Nigerian music star Ayra Starr and members of her team were refused visas to enter the country, insisting that there is no official record of any visa application or rejection involving the singer.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, South Africa’s Consul-General to Nigeria, Professor Bobby Moroe, said immigration authorities could not verify the claims because no visa application linked to Ayra Starr or her entourage was found in their records.
Moroe urged those making the allegations to provide the names of the affected individuals alongside their visa application reference numbers to enable authorities investigate the matter.
The clarification follows calls by prominent Nigerians, including former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for Nigeria to adopt reciprocal visa measures if it is confirmed that Ayra Starr’s team was previously denied entry into South Africa.
Reports indicate that in February 2024, Ayra Starr was forced to cancel scheduled performances in Johannesburg and Cape Town after concert organisers, Steyn Entertainment, claimed her team was denied visas despite efforts to secure them. The organisers subsequently announced refunds for ticket holders.
Meanwhile, the diplomatic tension between Nigeria and South Africa appears to have escalated, with Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla removing Lagos from her upcoming world tour schedule.
The Lagos concert, initially scheduled for December 22, was expected to mark Tyla’s first headline performance in Nigeria. However, the announcement sparked criticism from many Nigerians who accused the singer of remaining silent over recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians living in South Africa.
Following the backlash, social media users in both countries exchanged hostile comments, with some South African users calling for the expulsion of Nigerians while others urged restrictions on Nigerian artistes performing in South Africa.
Reacting to Tyla’s removal of Lagos from her tour itinerary, former Nigerian Consul to Cameroon, Rasheed Akinkuolie, described the decision as inevitable given the current diplomatic strain. He warned that cultural exchanges between both nations may not be advisable until tensions ease and called on South Africa to compensate Nigerians affected by xenophobic attacks.
On the concert cancellation, Moroe said the South African mission had not received any official notification from Tyla’s promoters and therefore could neither confirm nor deny the reports. He maintained that diplomatic relations between both countries remain cordial and expressed optimism that ongoing engagements would help resolve existing concerns.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has renewed its demand for compensation for Nigerians who lost lives, property and businesses during xenophobic attacks in South Africa. It also urged Pretoria to fully implement the Memorandum of Understanding on the Early Warning Mechanism to prevent future attacks on Nigerians residing in the country.